Two Months!

Felicity turned two months old while we were in Chicago last week. When we got home, we took the "monthly picture".

She's getting more and more alert, loves to have coo-ing conversations, smiles all the time, likes bathtime, wants to be held upright as if she is standing (already trying to keep up with her sisters), and as you can see, she eats well. And this girl is a SLEEPER. She sleeps A LOT and in long stretches. She'll go 8-10 hours at night before demanding to eat. And then right back to sleep again. We couldn't have designed a better baby!

Jump.

This morning, Mommy heard things falling in the garage...but didn't go out to investigate. Must have been the wind. Right?!?! The garage door wasn't open, so that actually makes no sense. The house settling? Sure, we'll go with that one.

Later, when taking out some trash, she found THIS:

A LARGE, confused bullfrog. After Mommy, Daddy, Miriam, and Vivian chased it out of the garage (it took four of us because the creature apparently wanted to stay), we got the camera for pictures.

So we could prove how massive he really was. Maybe the pond behind our house needs to be checked for growth chemicals.

Last week we took a quick trip to Chicago. Time for a change of scenery and Tim was actually not insanely busy with work for a few days. So we sped off into the wild traffic of the Windy City.

The girls loved staying in a hotel. They got to color and play with magnetic dolls. And their parents took the time to just cuddle and watch TV in the morning. (They, of course, would never dream of arguing on vacation - see above.)

We got to see Uncle Michael, Stella, and Michael's new girlfriend (who was very nice!). The highlight of the trip for the girls was the Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier!! Miriam could have spent forever in their little kitchen area. Vivian loved playing with all the water toys. They're asking to go back again soon.

Yes, we did actually take Felicity with us - she was missing out on all the photo ops! (By the way, what color do you think her hair is?)

Oh, Getaways, you are so good to us.

She's Got The Look

Vivian has started dressing herself. Today that means a backward shirt. Not bad. 

Some days it's backward, inside out, upside down. Several shirts have taken a real beating around the neckline...stretched out and never to regain their former shape. 

But she's so proud of this new skill that we're willing to sacrificing a couple shirts in the name of practice.

Speaking of clothes...we caught her outside in this cute ensemble earlier this week. These are the pictures we'll enjoy most when she's a teenager.

Behind the Scenes

As promised, we're going to bury you in more pictures from this weekend's festivities. 

The girls had to bring this fancy necklace to the graduation ceremony. They called it the chocolate necklace. And Vivian was often seen chewing on it.

Can you spy Aunt Maria singing in the choir at the graduation? Funniest part of this picture is the redhead seated below her.

What do you think they're talking about?

Sarah's mom took lots of pictures!

Somehow Miriam got her hands back on the chocolate necklace.

Michael with Annette and Bridget...too bad he's so busy texting again...

Our favorite part of our church: a mosaic of the Immaculate Conception

Miriam, Mommy,

Lydia, and Vivian got to open all Felicity's baptism gifts.

And then the girls enjoyed the gifts!

Ok, that's it for this past weekend! Thanks to all who made the trip for Felicity's baptism!

New Life

It's been QUITE the weekend! People are beginning new lives around here! The highlights: Uncle John graduated and Felicity was baptized! We took many, many pictures. And you may be subjected to more of them later, but for now, just these. First, the graduation ceremony.

Uncle John: Receiving his diploma

Hats off, Class of 2013!

See the big medal around his neck? He received that award based on recommendation of his high school teachers. Pretty awesome kid. 

The post-ceremony cigar

Our family with Uncle John

Uncle John and his godfather, Uncle Drew

 Then we were on to the baptism! Fr. Derrick warmed up the crowd.

We all crowded around the church's new baptismal font.

Felicity was well behaved for the most part. Her sisters cried through their entire baptisms, so a little crying at the end seemed like perfect behavior.

Uncle Michael kept the sisters under control. 

And Felicity really enjoyed Fr. Derrick pouring water over her head!

Her godmother, Aunt Bridget, dried her little head.

And her godfather, Uncle John, got to light her baptismal candle.

And Aunt Michelle got to meet Felicity!

God has been very good to us this weekend.

Check out the chins on that baby!

And we're counting on more good things for our families in the future.

Felicity with her godparents

Visitors, Cupcakes, and Tea Time

School is winding down, summer is winding up. And there always seems to be lots of family in town during the summer months. We got to spend some time with Tim's Aunt Sue this past week and she got to meet Felicity!

Speaking of Felicity...

...yes, you're right, she is the cutest kid in the universe!

And as we said goodbye (literally) to Aunt Sue, Sarah's sister Annette and her fiance Tom arrived.

They were immediately roped into playing the cupcake game.

It is an awesome and well-loved game. If you have a little person in your life who likes Disney princesses or cupcakes, they will LOVE this game. And it's educational, if you play it right. Which we don't seem to do often because Miriam likes to make her "own creations".

Annette and Tom spent the night. In the morning, Aunt Annette helped to arrange a tea party for breakfast.

It was beyond fancy. And they enjoyed every second of it. Tim is very surrounded by girls.

Happy (gummy) Mother's Day

Our Mother's Day treat? 

This gummy grin. Cannot get enough of it!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful, giving Moms we know. Especially our own two mothers who continue to teach us how to really love as Christ and His mother love. 

Now we're off to make caramel corn and watch a movie together on a sparkly, blue blanket in the living room.