Julia is 2 (27 months) & Claire is 4 months!

So I've been really thinking about getting on the blogging train again but everytime I sit down something comes up - yes as I started typing this entry I hear Claire awake - after only 20 minutes. She's definately not the napper Julia was oh but is she beyond happy. Anywho, I can't believe my last post was in June. So what has been happening?

On June 26, 2011 Claire Elizabeth came into this world. Ever since it's been a complete whirlwind balancing an infant, a toddler, a career (which exploded - not complaining in these hard times) and just life period. So blogging fell off the train but I will regret not documenting Claire's first years like I did with Julia so here goes. 

Claire is already four months. She is one of the happiest babies I have ever met and I meet more than most people considering it's my job. She arrived three weeks early and had a rough start with having to be hospitalized the first 11 days with spinal meningitis. She then caught the hand foot mouth virus a month later. A month ago she was diagnosed with acid reflux....but she's still smiling! She obviously get's her dad's optimistic nothing can rain on my parade personality. So what all is she doing?

Claire at 4 months

Claire's Measurements at 4 months

Weight: 16 lb. 3 oz 90 percentile for weight

Height: 25.5 in. 90 percentile for height

Head Circumference: 16.5" 75 percentile

Julia's Measurements at 4 months

Weight: 13 lb. 12 oz  50 percentile for weight

Height: 24 in.  50 percentile for height

Head Circumference: 16 " 30 percentile - she gets her small head from Jarred I guess

Julia at 4 months....any resemblance?

Now that's a bit of a change. Although Julia is now 90% in height and 75% in weight it seems Claire is going to be the tall one of these two. Oh and while I'm talking about the two - can I say how much Julia adores her baby sister? She talks about her, runs to see her when she wakes up, 

What is Julia Doing Now at 27 months?

Goes to The Gardner School full time and loves it!

Putting sentences together

Can count to 20

Can say the alphabet

Uses pronouns correctly most of the time

Brushes own teeth

Can wash and dry own hangs

Can draw a straight line and circle 

Starting to identify colors - can identify blue

Can reason with her now

Still using a paci "papi" but we are working our way away

Can jump and gallop easily

What is Claire Doing Now at 4 months?

Babble and try to imitate sounds we make

Smiles back

Starting to notice colors

Pushes up with assistance

Attempting to roll

Napping....sometimes

Grasping object

Starting to entertain herself

Never took a paci - self soothes

Girl's Weekend in Memphis

Last weekend Julia and I headed to Memphis with my friend Ashley and her 2 year old daughter Katie. Oh what fun! We had tx to YoGabbaGabba Live and we did it right.
The car ride there was pretty awesome. The girls entertained themselves and each other while Ashley and I got some much needed "adult" time. We made a quick stop at Chili's for lunch and then back on our way. We arrived at The Peabody (we stayed there for the ducks) around 4 and the girls were immediately in love with the ducks swimming in their fountain. The girls still had no idea what was ahead of them.

Once we got to the room the girls took over. This was definately a girls weekend - little girls that is. They ran wild and explored every inch. We then got them all dolled up in their YoGabbaGabba Foofa gear and hit the streets. We dined at BBKings - who would have thought my first time there would be with blues loving Julia. The highlight was Julia - she was seriously moving her head and dancing as if she was feeling the blues - as if BBKing himself was living through her for a minute. Crazy.

The Girls on Beale Street 

We then headed to YoGabbaGabba and I gave Julia the gift of her lifetime I think. She loved it - LOVEDIT!! Normally shy around strangers she would just wander down the aisle trying to get as close as possible to Muno and the gang. She danced and danced. I love watching every minute of it.

Yes that is Julia to the left in the pink:-)

Parenthood is truely the best and having a little girl like Julia just makes it 100 times even more. We finished off the night with a horse and carriage ride through Memphis. We snuggled and snuggled while seeing where Elvis purchased his furniture for Graceland and the original Peabody stood.

We ended the night exhaused but the girls kept on going. I mean you would think after the day that they had they would be tired to but the excitement of being 2....oh to bottle the energy.

I so look forward to many trips like this in my life. Over time they will evolve into teeny bopper concerts and eventually shopping trips to NYC or weekends away in the desert....who knows but I am very blessed to have such an amazing little lady as my daughter. The best thing is I get this times 2!

Marching of the Ducks at The Peabody

Our Home Remodel

 I was digging through some old photos when I stumbled across the before photos of our current home. We moved in last October (2010) and had to do a complete renovation before we could. It was a foreclosure so we got an amazing price and we got into Franklin. However, the house smelled like urine and cigarettes (oh so homey). Luckily Jarred and I could see the potential and snatched it off the market! So here are some befores and afters....looking at these we should be quite proud of ourselves:-) We did the entire house but I'm only including the big ones. See dad, I did use my design degree for something:-)

OUR HOUSE

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LIVING AREA

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KITCHEN

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JULIA'S ROOM

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MASTER BEDROOM

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MASTER BATH

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STUDIO

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Julia's First Hair Cut - Snip, snip!

I've been trimming Julia's hair for awhile now but decided it was finally time to take her to get her first official haircut - although I stopped them from snipping the baby curls in the back. She did really well I must say - better than I anticipated. I took her to Divas and Dudes here in Cool Springs and that place is genius. There's a play area for kids, tons of stuff to keep them engaged while they wait and the staff is just so happy - when she's older she can even get a pedi/mani while she's there. I have to give Jarred big bonus points too because in this world of pink and polish he got involved in every aspect:-) I can't believe how much she is growing!

Pre-haircut

 Making friends as usual - he didn't know what to think of her.

 The first snip.

Yes I will let her be a princess for a day. She even wore the crown in to get ice cream at Sweet Cici's - her favorite!

Off to Sweet CiCi's after a day at the spa and shopping - oh the life of my little diva.