March Madness

Wow, been a month already since I posted anything. Well, as you can tell from the photos we have had lots of visitors and help since Caraline's arrival. We have enjoyed lots of good times with family and friends. We were so thankful Jeremy's folks were able to make it out to visit and it was sad to see them go! After that time, we had a lovely visit from Uncle Adam and Aunt Ruth. Both girls were most taken with Uncle Adam. Abigail was impressed with this Super Mario playing skills and Olivia just liked to maul him. We wished we lived closer to them too! Here's some photos of the time together.

The girls wanted to be just like grandpa and read outside.

An Olivia outfit. Sporting her sling in the 2nd one.

Not Abigail's best shot, but all we had of the four of them together.

One month already!

Some random events....

Today we were walking back from the park and stopped to chat with an elderly man and pet his dog. When he saw Abigail riding up on her scooter he commented, oh it's one of our special friends! I can only assume the helmet threw him off...don't really know.

In other news, found a dead ant in Caraline's barf. We have noticed a few random ants in our house and one must have ended up in her mouth somehow. I am really grossed out by ants so this is particularly disturbing.

Abigail was eating a piece of dried spaghettit and announced that she was smoking. I asked her how she knew about smoking and she said well, lots of people smoke...just like uncle david. All we can figure is that she saw some cigars in the glove box of Uncle Davids dune-riding Jeep that were left over from a previous guys weekend. This would have been last summer and how she connected that all together is beyond me!

She's Here

Baby Caraline Ann Smith arrived on Tuesday, March 1st after four hours of labor! Good thing we went to the hospital when we did...apparently she wanted to come out quickly to meet the two other crazy Smith sisters pictured on the left here. Last weekend, Olivia was determined to wear this bathing suit all day, and she did!

It has been very fun to see them interact with and love on their little sister. Abigail didn't want to leave the hospital, because she said that it was 'too much fun' to hold the baby. Olivia did a great job holding her this afternoon but we don't trust her too much yet. She is very fascinated with baby's eyes. Caraline is a good eater, which is an answer to prayer and likes being held to sleep. We will cut her a little slack since she isn't even two days old yet!

Richard and Connie flew in the day she was born so we are also thanking God for that timing. They are terrific helps to us and the girls love having their grandparents around. Grandpa already took them to the 7-11 for doughnuts after breakfast! Here's some photos of the past two days.

Olivia is in a little disbelief that we actuallly allowed her to hold the baby.

A bed full of blessings (and another gloworm/seahorse).

February

I was just looking through our photos and realized we didn't take one in January. We weren't that busy but I think in my late pregnant state I am hesitant to bust out the camera because then it reminds Jeremy that he wants to take pictures of my 'progress'. Let's just say that daily someone will comment on my girth, usually aghast when I tell them there's only one in there and its a girl (i carry low so most old ladies think its a boy). Someone told me two days ago that the baby was going to just fall right out. At this point I almost wish that would happen, but I am trying to wait patiently :)

Here's a photo of the girls before we took advantage of a free babysitting drop-off the high schoolers at church did over Valentines Day weekend. Both girls had a blast and stayed up way too late. Olivia thought it was particularly terrific to be able to run around the church courtyard at 9pm in her jammies, pink fake crocs, and princess backpack. Both were a little grumpy at church the next morning but it was nice to get out with Jeremy. We went to our favorite place for pizza, Zacharys and met some friends from Pleasanton we don't get to see very often. Note Olivias very ladylike pose with her hands in her pants. She is still obsessed with taking off her diaper at various times (luckily its only happened when she has been wet), putting on Abigails or my undies over her pants and talking about about going potty. She cries when we actually do, but we will be trying for sure this summer. We had fondue with the girls on Valentines night. Jeremy got each of the girls a balloon for the occasion, which was a HUGE hit. It really doesn't take much to make them happy.

We registered Abigail for kindergarten a few weeks ago and it seems so strange that my big helper won't be around in the mornings next fall. She is pumped to go and hopefully all goes well. Socially we think she will be fine but she doesn't seem that academically motivated so maybe a school setting will help. A few weeks ago Abigail got it in her head that we were going to bike to her school so I gamely set out and probably three miles later I realized it was a bit adventuresome for us all. But we made it.

In other news, we switched the girls into their bunkbeds with mixed success. The first night was a wash, with them giggling and singing Jingle Bells until 9pm at which point we moved Olivia to the crib and then she cried herself to sleep. The next night both girls managed to fall off the ladder at some point. Olivia is not allowed to go up to visit Abigail but we think the night light was giving off too much light and the temptation was too much. Olivia must not have made it very far because she didn't seem that hurt. Later on we heard a 2nd thud and found Abigail at the bottom. We are so thankful there were no serious injuries. Abigail got the wind knocked out of her but didn't hit her head on the way down and was able to recover after a bit. Had a few good nights and then Olivia had another rough start last night and we put her in the pack n play until she fell asleep and then transferred her, which seems to work well.


We are hoping that Caraline (still don't know her middle name) Smith comes by her due date (March 2nd) and really can't wait to meet her. Olivia and Abigail like talking/yelling at her through my tummy so who knows what she will think of her big sisters when she comes out!

Christmas

We had a terrific Christmas season, enjoying lots of good family time together and celebrating Jesus' birth. I love being home and with the kiddos. Abigail was totally clued into all the festivities and we had some great talks about the reason we celebrate the season!


Some photos to share.....







The girls looking lovely in their Christmas outfits.


Abigail went ice skating for the first time thanks for Vincents birthday. It was raining, think of puddles in some parts of the rink, but Abigail was soaked and loving it. Olivia was most determined to get out there as well and I spent most of the time chasing her around.

On the right, Christmas Eve photo with some of the friends we had over. Clam chowder might be the new tradition!

Abigail, and her lip balm 'watch', flashing gang symbols. Bad photo, but this is what Olivia wore most of Christmas morning at Nani/Papas (her new outfit, then new pjs, then new boots and coat, complete with broom).

Santa even made an appearance. On the way home, Abigail asked how Papa put all of those cotton balls on his face. Olivia was a little unsure of the big guy but we always love a visit from him. He claims, yet again, this was his last appearance. The shower caps, along with water, airplane peanuts and other goodies, were courtesy of Santas recent flight to Dubai on the way here :)

An Elmo doll that doesn't talk. Thanks Aunt Gail! She sleeps with it every night.

The girls were most excited to open gifts. Below is the dollhouse from Grandpa/ma Smith that continues to be a hit. Both girls really like playing in it.

Five Years Old

Abigail turned five last week. We celebrated on her birthday with a quick visit to Chuck E Cheese to use some tokens we had (daddy took the day off), then our birthday dinner of mac n cheese and applesauce, and santa claus cupcakes from safeway that she had picked out the day before. Lets just say that the neon green frosting was not digestible and came out the next day in the toilet/diaper. Lovely! She got a basketball hoop from the grandparents that she opened that night and loves to play on.

Did you know that Chuck E Cheese has a line dance that he does when he comes out during his 'live performance'? Yes, and since my kids were the only white ones there they just stared at all of the happily dancing kiddos and mouse. It was quite hilarious.

We had about 12 kids over on Friday night for her pizza and movie party. We did a make your own pizza night, complete with games and a Dora pinata, and then watched a short movie. It was our first attempt at a drop-off party and actually went quite well, with the help of Aunt Gail, Ben, Nani and Daddy. All of the kids had a fun time and they really got into the pinata activity. There was also much running around the backyard in the pitch black screaming and general mayhem in our living room.

Abigail used an entire container of sprinkles on the cupcakes! Dora the pinata, or a Dora look alike. Can't beat $5 at FoodMaxx. Her leg fell off first and the kids thought that was pretty hilarious.

Thanksgiving

The girls listening to some tunes before our trip to Novato.

We spent the day in Novato with the gparents, my mom (dad was still overseas), Aunt Gail, and Uncle Ben. We watched football and the parade, played outside in the great weather, and enjoyed a yummy meal. Abigail wanted to make decorations for the table and so we traced out leaves and colored them. She then made everyone name tags with masking tape, like they do at our nursery at church, and we all had to wear them. That's what the tape on Jeremy and Abigail is for. She was a real ham at the dinner table, cracking us all up with the games she invented. We played a funny version of Simon Says, which Grandad won, and then we had to guess what she was thinking (no clues or hints...it was 'cow jumped over the moon'). Aunt Gail won that one after some help from Abigail. Olivia slept through the meal, which was actually nice since it allowed me to eat :) Just before we left, Olivia did manage to eat a couple handfuls of caffeinated coffee grounds from the trash can. They actually slept in the next day, so maybe she can have that every night!

Gilroy Gardens

We spent a Saturday in November at Gilroy Gardens and the girls had a blast. Both girls loved riding all of the rides with our friends the Burtchs and the day was warm and beautiful. With the exception of the Icee crisis, upon which Olivia threw herself onto the ground for a serious fit after not being granted the ability to drink from the cup, the girls held it together during the busy day. And no we did NOT buy Abigail that hat!