We miss Grammy and Papa!

We were sitting around the breakfast table talking about how much we missed Grammy and Papa (Peter was talking about how it was not fair that Grammy and Papa left and didn't take us - according to him he now has anxiety about it!) and so I suggested making a video. Once we were all settled on the couch and I was behind the camera the kids lost every bit of enthusiasm! Good thing they're adorable!

We are going to Reillyn's christening later today and then movie night at home - did everyone know that High School Musical 3 came out on video? I may post some pictures later! In the meantime - We miss you, Grammy and Papa - have fun in Florida!

GNM - ILY!

A blog per Auntie Meg's request!

My girl imitates everything - including how Peter sits at the table. How cute is this little girl? We have had a long week - Ellie and Lizzy have been sick so there is not a whole lot of sleeping going on in our house but other than that the last week of my maternity leave has been wonderful. Auntie Lisa and Nick and Ella came over yesterday to visit - and they brought diapers - Who knew how grateful one Mama could be for a bag of diapers. Meg and I met with her photographer and she booked her - I can't wait for the wedding - Molly talks about it everyday! Go see Meg and Tim's Wedding Site for more info.

The big kids don't get a lot of blog time because they are not home with me all day but they are all doing really well. Peter is loving school. His teacher is beyond wonderful. She finds the most interesting ways to encourage the kids to learn and her enthusiasm has rubbed off on Peter. She is kind and gentle with the kids - which every mom knows is important for those tough moments when we aren't there to comfort our kids. Ms. Kelly has really reinforced in Peter a love of reading, innovative learning skills and, most of all, a true passion for school! Peter is also really excited for Spring - he is a kid who needs to get out and run.

My Molly girl is just a dolly in every way. She has been getting up at 4 in the morning and getting dressed in her uniform and then getting back into her bed and going to sleep. Her theory is that it will take less time in the morning whe n we wake her up and she can take more time to eat her breakfast. I don't really know how to argue with her and she's so darn cute. Bob was packing her a snack this morning and she asked if we had any Chips and Joy left - Chips Ahoy to most of us. It's funny because once they start reading you lose alot of those cute little misnomers but Molly comes up with the sweetest little things! We also told the kids we were not going to go to Washington as a family anymore because we are not allowed to take Ellie out of state yet. I am going to fly down for two days and the kids will stay at home with Bob. When we are in DC we always eat out and Bob and I have to work hard to find affordable food. Molly's major disappointment with not going is to not be able to go to her favorite DC restaurant, JETS - it took us a while to figure out that she meant Johnny Rockets!

Annie and Lizzie sharing a sister moment. Annie adores Lizzie and loves to have her on her belly. I'm not sure that Lizzie looks so comfortable but............

One of the best things about Annie right now is her use of the English language. Sister=Sissa, Brother=Bubber, Molly=Maaaaaa, Peter=Peper, Lizzie=Izzy, and the best is Amen - said exactly correctly but with boldness and enthusiasm each and every time. Annie also went pee-pee on the potty - Go Annie! We are on our way!

Our twins - in matching outfits! How cute are they?

My girl with her little hands in her mouth - we thought she might be a thumb sucker but she seems to stick her whole fist in there.

The three babies - Annie loves when the babies sit on the couch next to her.

Lizzie holding her baby sister - how funny that at not even 4 months Lizzie is technically a big sister.

Our girls head to head!

Poor Lizzie was so sick and all she wanted was to snuggle with her brother before he left for school. Look how watery her eyes are!

Big brother snuggles are the best!

Molly and Peter were giving snuggles before they left for school.

This would be the sight outside of our house a few mornings ago. Bob took the work truck and tried to park it across the street - he then slammed on the brakes causing it to slide down the embankment and get stuck in the ditch. Triple A was on the way to tow it but the cops had to come because it was town property - fun fun fun - never a dull moment.

Daddy with his hands full!

Lizzie figured out how to get toys in her mouth - so cute.

The problem with being in love with the father of your children is that every sweet little moment is cause for a awwwww moment. So another series of pictures of Bob and Lizzie bonding late at night.

Another matching outfit - another cause for a picture! They both look so rigid in this one but they are still adorable.

This is how Annie started the morning yesterday.

Then we went potty and progressed to this!

We finally managed to get a pull-up on but Annie felt it needed some accessories - so cute!

The girls hanging out on the couch today - in binky and blankie heaven together!

One more cute story about my niece Julia - I wasn't going to put it up on the blog because it is embarrassing for me but I'm past that after 5 kids. Julia and I were sitting on the couch in my parents basement on Sunday and she touched my belly and asked why it didn't shrink all the way when I had Lizzie. I said that Auntie Kasey had to get off her butt and get on the exercise bike if it was ever going to go away completely and Julia looked me straight in the eye and said in all seriousness - "Okay - just don't get pregnant on there." Health class is going to be fun for her teacher!

Bob and I are going out tonight to J. Gilberts - our gift card is burning a hole in our pockets and, let's face it, when you get an offer to babysit five kids there will be no hesitation in accepting immediately. Grammy and Papa left for Florida this morning - we already miss them and I am thinking Miss Annie may go into convulsions at some point without her Papa fix but my dad promised a blog to keep us going so we'll see if he comes through for his grandkids (Nothing like some good Irish Catholic guilt). Off to make cookies for the big kids and then hopefully a shower before dinner! Have a great weekend - I may or may not be back before the end of the weekend!

GNM - ILY!

Elizabeth at three months

Lizzie was officially 3 months old on February 11th but things are a little crazy in this house so I am just getting to post an entry. Elizabeth is a joy - a sweet bundle of joy. She is starting to have the greatest little personality - she smiles, coos and warm our heart on a daily basis.

As you can see Elizabeth is an absolute beauty. Unfortunately the poor thing is still suffering from Excema and if anyone knows how uncomfortable and frustrating that can be it is me - I look at her beautiful baby skin and wonder how she manages a quiet moment with those red itchy patches - my Mommy heart just breaks for her. We are working with a pediatric dermatologist (I was shocked to know that they had them) to find ways to make Lizzie more comfortable and to be sure that she does not sustain more serious issues due to her skin condition. All of that being said, Elizabeth is a tropper - enduring oatmeal baths, milk soaks, greasy creams and medicated lotions that hurt for a moment when you first put them on. She is a doll!

Lizzie is still on Nutrmigen predigested formula and her tummy is doing much better. She gulps down 6 ounces every 3-4 hours and loves her bottles. Elizabeth does look at our food now and lick her lips - a few more months and I have no doubt that the cheerios won't stand a chance!

Annie can now say her sister's name - "Izzy" - I can't say I would be disappointed if it stuck - I think it is adorable. Lizzie also interacts a bit with Annie during the day - smiling and cooing at her when she is in eyesight and encouraging Annie to keep reading books to her by squealing at her - this sends Annie into gales of laughter!

The big kids could not possibly love Elizabeth anymore - they walk in the house and go to wherever she is - scooping her up - usually waking her up and always loving on her. Now that we have Elllie they fight over her less but her attention is at a premium for sure!

Lizzie weighs 12 pounds 12 ounces and is very tall for her age. In fact, she has surpassed what they predicted her height would be at birth and is in the 100th percentile. For weight she is in the 65th percentile - in other words, perfect!

Lizzie sneezes three times every morning when she wakes up. Never two - always three times. She is a Daddy's girl just like the rest of our girls - she seeks him out with her eyes and smiles when she hears his voice at the end of the day. Bob has a habit of bringing her into bed with us at the end of the day when we are fading off so that he can snuggle with her for a few minutes - she loves it and it gives him a few minutes with just Lizzie.

Lizzie already loves to be read to - she will listen intently to an entire book as many times as you will read it to her. She especialy loves if Peter or Molly does it!

Absolutely NONE of Elizabeth's hair has fallen out but it is lightening up and we suspect it will be Annie's color pretty soon. She has much more hair than Annie did and LOVES when anyone - especially Grammy - runs their fingers through it or plays with it - this is a sure way to get her to sleep.

Lizzie still sleeps with her hands up by her face and she sticks her tongue out when she is concentrating on something. Her favorite toys are the swing and the little ducky that Annie constantly brings to her. She sleeps twice a day for 2 hours and then catnaps the rest of the day. She is awake for hours at a time now and most of the time she is very happy! She is loved, adored and cherished by all of us!

GNM - ILY!

More Pictures

Meg came over to help me out today and to bond with Lizzie - I got some work done and did a few things in Molly's room and the babies got a break from me!

Ellie is still adjusting to life in our house - she has her moments of tranquility but mostly she is still fussy and needs lots of attention. Elizabeth has been really sick all week with a bad cold. We took her in to the doctor after she had a fever of 102 for over 3 days but it is just a bad virus and we just have to wait it out. In the meantime she is fussy and uncomfortable - poor baby!

Molly had the same virus this weekend which caused her to stay in bed, literally, for the entire weekend. She just napped and watched TV in my bed for an entire two days and on Sunday when we were all going to my parents house she asked if she could stay home - that's when we knew she was REALLY sick - she loves going to Grammy and Papa's house!

Annie and Pete escaped the virus so far so they both got to do lots of fun stuff this weekend. On Saturday Peter went with Auntie Karla and uncle Pat after church and played with Tyler all night - then on Sunday Annie, Ellie and Peter and I left the sick kids home with Bob and went to my parents house to watch the UCONN game with Auntie Kake and Grammy and Papa. We got an extra treat when Mrs. Holleran showed up for some baby time and then Auntie Jane and Auntie Kara brought Reillyn over to visit. Yesterday Molly got to go with Auntie Karla and Abby to play while Peter and Tyler went to the Science Museum with Auntie Ann. Annie Bananie got a special date with Auntie Meghan and Auntie Kake - I hear even Uncle Colin did some bonding with her! Just another reminder of how lucky we are to have family and friends who love our kids and are there to give attention to the ones who need it at any time.

And tonight is Taco Night - everyone's favorite dinner - even Auntie Meg is staying!

Annie eating a donut for breakfast!
My big girl helping out by feeding Ellie.

Annie and Ellie holding hands!

Auntie Meg and Uncle Tim came over on Sunday to hang with us before we went out and Peter and Lizzie posed for a picture - we are still working on Uncle Tim - he never smiles for pictures!

Ellie was being adorable the other night so I took a zillion pictures of her!

Annie and Tyler have such a special bond. Karla brought Tyler over yesterday before they went to the museum and Annie could not stop smiling and hugging tyler. She adores him!

Sweet Lizzie Bug

Annie looked so cute yesterday with her little pig tails - once again - I overdid the pictures but it's my blog!

Ellie getting a tubby from Auntie Meg - she loves her tubbies!

Off to make tacos and chat with the hubby now that he is finally home from work! Had a photo shoot with the babies today so I'll post more tomorrow!

GNM - ILY!