Nine months old!

We are totally claiming that she said her first real word on her nine-month birthday on top of her regularly scheduled cuteness.  She had been saying "mamamama" and "dadadaa" sounds often, but on her first morning of being nine months old, she reached for her daddy's arms and said "Daddy".  We're sure that's exactly what she meant.  (Have you ever known a Ward girl to be uncertain of her wishes?)  Precious.  She has started to be more of a Daddy's girl sometimes and hates when he leaves for work or meetings.  Her favorite thing in the world right now is Italian food and she has a strong dislike for safety gates.  She would really, really, like to play with all the tempting things in the bathroom, but her mean parents don't let her. We doubt she'll be crawling too much longer since her eyes are on the vertical prize that is walking.  Just has to keep up with her sisters.

Birthday Girl

 Our five year old had a pretty good day for a Tuesday birthday this year.  It was a school day, so that's always a winner for her.  We started the morning with chocolate chip oatmeal muffins, by her request. and she opened a few gifts.  Multi-colored headbands were a hit, as were the purple clothes and accessories.  (Thanks, Deb!!!).  She was "Star Student" all week at school so she was able to bring in some special toys in the "Star Bag" to present to her class.  Her baby doll made the cut for that day.  Carrigan had school, so Delaney and I showed up at Brinnly's snack time in the cafeteria with donut holes.  It was a pleasant opportunity to watch her interact with her new friends.  There are three "Isabellas" in her class!  It's a sweet group in there and donut holes always add some extra smiles. We saw this first grade cutie at her snack table and couldn't resist giving her a donut hole too:

After some Happy Birthday Skyping, we enjoyed macaroni & cheese and egg roles for dinner.  Brinnly's request, again.  Tomorrow we are off to Idlewild to celebrate the day away!

Five

Five years ago today, we met our family's first "little sister". Brinnly Ruth Ward.  And what a delight she was--especially after a extra-long labor and a worrisome delivery.  She was 7 lbs, 1 oz of sweetness and even though we were exhausted (we did have a one-year-old Amalia to care for too!) we knew she was a special one.

Brinnly quickly gained a reputation as the high-maintenance one in our family. She liked to be held, refused bottles, and established strong food preferences early on.  But one bat of those eyelashes and we were all suckers for her.  She could snuggle up to her parents in an extra-special way. 

Somehow, along the way, she's lost most of those high-maintenance ways.  She's lately as independent as they come.  Dresses herself in the morning, preps for bed without prompting, etc.  She marched off to Kindergarten at age 4 3/4 and loves every second of it.  Her sisters are always eager to choose her to sit by them, or play pretend, or any number of games.   Delaney, especially, appreciates her tenderness.  I hope to always remember Brinnly singing to newborn Laney after one of her first baths:  "Rub, rub, rub a dub, two bears in a tub.  Mama and her baby cub, singing rub a dub". I have visions of Brinnly being a loving Mama to her baby cubs someday.

She's still our sensitive one.  She's aware of the needs of others and can show of a good display of stubbornness with a side of foot stomping for her self on occasion.  She gives affection freely and fiercely.  We love the notes and pictures she makes for us and her willingness to share--even from her piggy bank. Music is big to her.  She loves dancing and singing and hopes to play the flute and organ someday.  In addition to her gymnastics and ballet careers.

Brinn loves the color purple, good books, princesses, and fancy shoes. She's barely surviving the school's new uniform dress code which limits her ability to add as much flair to an outfit as possible. She still won't touch fruit in most forms but has added shrimp and sushi to her list of favorites.  Although she'd probably eat a bowl of cereal for every meal if she could.  With chocolate anything for dessert.

Brinner-Bugs, you make our world such a sweeter place.  We are glad to have you in our family to learn how to love even more.  Thanks for filling our arms with hugs and our faces with smiles.  We look forward to watching you grow and flourish even more in the year ahead.  Purple suede boots and all.

Homework Club

 Brinnly was overjoyed to bring home her first homework assignment today.  Mali had homework most days last week: usually one sheet of phonics and one of math.  Brinn was itching to feel as grown-up as that.  Thankfully, they are both still in the stage where they enjoy it and don't complain (much).  Homework at this stage is fairly labor-intensive for parents since there are always directions to be read and instructions to be explained. so I am glad the girls don't usually put up a fuss.  It's a good chance for me to see their academic progress.  After a few adjustments, I think we've got the afternoon routine of snack-homework-clean-TV-dinner down pat.

  Laney is of course, always ready to help with any big-girl project.  Especially if it's at the table.  There's always a chance food may be involved and she wouldn't want to miss out.

Castle Blocks to finish out the Labor Day weekend

We did a lot of great things over the long weekend:  Wizard of Oz Exhibit at the Children's Museum, impromptu dinner with friends, meeting up to visit a new baby, and the Blackridge Pool Closing Party.  But the only one that was captured in pictures was how Mali & Carrigan chose to close out the weekend. They were so proud of this castle that they built with their daddy that they asked that I take picture of it on all sides.  (Brinnly & Laney were content to cuddle, read stores, and talk to Hata & Hoshish during the building process.)  Overall, we are declaring this holiday a winner.