What's a mom to do?

Here's a recent conversation with Elise: 

Elise: Mom, why do you have a tattoo on your bottom?

Mom: Good question, Elise.

Elise: Mom, did you have to take your pants off to get a tattoo?

Mom: Yes dear.

Elise: Why, Mom?

Mom: Because, Elise, your mom was not a very smart teenager.

Oh, how many more of these conversations will we have over the years? Lord, grant me grace as my girls get older....

Here are some sweet pictures of my girls from the last week.

A Perfect Day

Today was one of those perfect days, one of those days where I think, Wow, Life is so GOOD! I am so lucky to get to spend my day having fun with my kids. Elise, Lilah and I along with our play group friends went to Apple Works. Apple Works is way in the sticks, but is worth the drive. The weather was perfect - sunny and just the perfect temperature in the sun. The kids were all happy and well-behaved. I was with good friends. Lilah was her laid-back self, enjoying the fresh air and the view from the Moby. Elise was overall a good listener, and had a blast with her friends - especially riding the train and feeding the goats. Elise and Rebekah rode in a train car by themselves - no adults. When did they get so big?! Here's a link to last year's trip, if you want to see how much they've grown. (I didn't get pictures of all the kids - I tried, but they move fast!)

Elise and Rebekah

Jonah

Lilah enjoying the Moby

Eve - so photogenic!

Elise feeding the goat

Elise, Carson, and Rebekah

Two Month Check

Lilah had her two month check up yesterday. Much like her sister was, she is a BIG baby! I can't believe how much she has grown since she was born. Remember, she started out weighing 6 lb 14 ounces. Well, she now weighs 12 lbs 8 ounces (90th percentile) and is 23 3/4 inches long (90-95 percentile). Yeesh!

Lilah had the two shots plus an oral vaccine yesterday. I couldn't watch. Between Elise, Lilah, and I, there were no dry eyes. Sweet Elise didn't want Lilah to get hurt and had sympathy tears. What a kind big sister! Afterward, Lilah slept most of the day. She was pretty sad when she finally woke up, but she seems more like herself today. 

I looked back to Elise's two month check, it was neat to see what Elise was up to then and also how life has changed. Elise was a very motivated baby - she remains a motivated preschooler! She is very smart, and she never stops. Personally, I was going through a painful time going back to work full-time. I was really longing for more flexibility and more time with Elise. God certainly provided. I have to say, as November 1 nears (when Lilah will start some childcare), I can't say I'm looking forward to it. But, I'm so grateful that I can work part-time in a job I enjoy and still have lots of time to spend with my girls.

We're in Fort Wayne for the weekend - our annual apple picking trip. So, I'll have lots of good pictures after the weekend. Sorry for no pictures in this post.

Dentist

Elise had her first trip to the dentist this week. All three of us girls went - first I got my teeth cleaned and then it was Elise's turn. The sight when I was getting polished was likely very amusing. I'm tipped back in the chair with Lilah on my lap and Elise sticking stickers all over me. I'm pretty sure the hygienist forgot to polish some of my teeth, but I wasn't going to remind her. After my turn, Elise was up. She looked adorable in the chair (see from the pictures - no, because I forgot the camera!) and she opened wide just like we practiced at home. My dentist is great with kids, and put Elise right at ease. She was excited to get a Belle toothbrush and a prize at the end. After first selecting a woopie cushion from the prize box (and then feeling embarrassed when the ladies in the office and I giggled; I always feel bad when I accidentally embarrass Elise), she decided on a streamer wand (I did get a picture of her playing with that!) I also got a keepsake picture the dentist gave me of Elise and her teeth, but I'm having scanner problems, so it isn't included. Instead, you get a sweet picture of Lilah showing off her "I'm eight weeks" smile. Speaking of Lilah, she just woke up, so I'm off to get her. She's still doing great. I think she weighs about 12.5 lbs and she is sleeping a seven hour stretch at night (thank you, sweetheart!)