Three Months Old!

Current obsession...The Hunger Games

This card was going around on Facebook and I couldn't resist.  I usually have no use for fantasy of any kind, but The Hunger Games might possibly be my favorite books ever.  Less than 48 hours until the movie debut!

Madame Mali Curie

There are big expectations in Kindegarten these days.  One example is the "Scientist of the Week" for Mali's class.  When it was our turn, she was to choose an experiment, practice it several times at home, create a visual aid to accompany it, and finally present it in front of her class. Her teacher even videoed it! Science has always sparked curiousity it her and she loved it.  If anyone needs to know how to create "Red Lava Bubbles" now you know the girl to ask.

A Month of Updates

Laney will be three months old tomorrow!  Where has our newborn gone?  And where exactly did the past four weeks go?  We are dangerously close to not having an blog-recording of that time.  So here goes...

The weather has been amazing.  Mali and Brinn have been fighting a little virus, our car was in the shop for two days, and our to-do lists seem to be never-ending, but 80 degrees and sunshine makes it all worth it.  Here are some of my favorite pics from the past few days.  As always, Kellie captures those moments beautifully at her blog here.

Two Months Old!

Do you know how hard it is to get a good picture of a two-month-old?  Especially when you have three "prop-directors"?  Seriously, that Pooh one was the best of the bunch.  It in no way captures her cuteness.  But Mali thought a crown would help the cause.  Our Delaney-Cakes is sweet as pie lately.  She smiles so wide it takes over her whole face.  Sometimes we here little coos instead of the normal newborn grunts we were used to.  The co-sleeper that was next to our bed has now been taken down and most nights she's down to one feeding.  A few nights we've even gotten a full. night's. sleep.  Glorious.  Her fussiest time is still from 8:00-10 pm which we think is just a ploy for individual time with her mom and dad.  We are more than happy to oblige.

While we were in Michigan....

We celebrated Aunt Kara's birthday, were godparents for baby Emerson, affirmed Delaney's baptism, and spent tons of good time catching up with people that have known and loved us the longest. The girls were wonderful travelers; Laney included. We did learn an important lesson from that good behavior--do not reward it with a family trip to Ikea that very day. THat is known as "pressing your luck". Likewise, it's not a good idea to furniture shop at Ikea on the way home from a family vacation unless you want to spend precious nap time in the parking lot tying boxes to the van roof. Important life lessons.

Delaney's First Vacation...

She goes to Ohio

And then Indiana

Finally...Michigan!

One year ago today...

We became official Pittsburgh "boomerangs", returning to the place we had that had been good to us years before.  Back then, the Steelers were in the Superbowl,  our girls were a lot smaller, and we were unsure about how our housing, schooling and other situations were going to work out.  We have truly seen God's hand in each of those areas.  (Okay, maybe not in the Steelers' season this year).  Our girls are thriving in a solid, growing, Christ-centered school.  We have renters in our Michigan house and are content renting in a big-enough home in a lovely neighborhood.  Jonathan's daily job provides him challenge and affirmation.   We still spend a lot of time in the living room where this picture was taken--the Ryans' house.  Amalia, Brinnly, and Carrigan are not only older, but in the role of big sister once again.  Delaney is the cherry on top of all of the changes in the past year. 

We still miss Michigan dearly.  We are still unsure of how the next year, decade, and beyond are going to turn out.  Where will we call home next?  But right now we're thankful for how the past 365 days have blessed us.

What else can you ask for in January?

Weather warm enough for a few park jaunts, but cold enough to justify long naps and lots of cuddling.  We'll take all of it.

I was thinking "cat" and "hat"...

Mali's homework for today included the instructions "draw two pictures of words that rhyme and label them".  Her choices?  "princess" and "incense". Can't wait to hear what her teacher thinks of that.

One Month Old!

Delaney Fay, better known as our Delaney Cakes, has already hit the big one month mark.  We pulled Winnie-the-Pooh out of retirement for the occasion.  Laney is as sweet as ever these days.  She loves to be cuddled and held and other than the still regular night wakings she's pretty low-maintenance.  Her sisters adore her and even seem to handle the days when our sleep-deprived, space-cadet days in stride.  We are just all so glad she's her and she's ours.

Five quick takes for the weekend

1)  Quote of the week, by Brinnly:  "I'm the brains of this outfit".  WHERE does she get this stuff?  I have a hunch it has to do with the Junie B. Jones books she listens to during quiet time

2) Anyone want to go the Carnegie Science Center with us?  Natural History Museum?  Art Museum?  Andy Warhol Museum?  We just bought a membership to all three.  Woo-hoo! 

3)  We went to our first fundraiser spaghetti dinner at the girls' school last night.  We'll forever remember it as the "night our eldest left our table to sit with her classmates". Good thing we still had a group of daughters to keep us company.

4) Delaney is trying really hard to smile.  She honestly works at stretching her chubby cheek muscles into the expression she wants. It's about the cutest thing ever.

5) Carrigan is closer than ever to potty training.  As if often the case with kids, she's picked up the slack in that department right around the time that we decide it's not worth us putting in the effort right now.  Not ideal timing for us (our hands are currently pretty full) but we'll take it.

Friday Update

 It's been good to get back to routine around here.  School, work, etc.  Delaney is fitting into that groove very well.  Brinnly and Carrigan also seem to be playing better now in the mornings at Mali is at school.

That being said, I hope there are special rewards in heaven for people that bring new parents meals and offer play dates for big sisters.  Speaking of big sisters, ours were pretty proud to show off Delaney at Kindergarten and preschool the other day.  She was a hit.

God's Own Child...Delaney Fay Ward

Our littlest one was baptized on New Year's Day at our dear church, First Trinity. Like her sisters, Delaney wore the baptismal gown that Grandma Deni made her from the material of my confirmation dress.  Laney's godparents are Matt & Erica Wilson who we originally met in Lutheran Student Fellowship at the same church.  They (and their little sweetheart son Johnny and baby #2 expected this summer) now live in Hanover, PA which thankfully is close enough for a weekend trip to Pittsburgh.  Jonathan is actually Matt's godfather as Matt was baptized and confirmed at First Trinity as an adult several years ago. 

Big Sister Carrigan did not let a baptism distract her from the current task at hand--potty-training.

(Like any good Pittsburgh fan, Delaney then came home for naps and changed into her Steeler gear.)
 
Since the holiday, weather, and overall travel logistics made it too hard for most of our family to be there, we look forward to have a "Affirmation of Baptism" ceremony (and party!) for Delaney in Michigan in February.  Details to come.  We'd love to have you join us.