8am photoshoots

You know it's going to be a really, really long day when you're already on cup of coffee #2 and staged a mini-photo shoot before Super Why comes on.  We were a day late for Emerson's 3 month picture so it was time to get to work.  I know you're all probably sick of hearing this, but seriously the chick rocks....you just have to talk to her and she starts smiling and she finds me funny.  And that is rare.  I love her.

We had a cute little photo shoot going....

And then the crazies came in and joined us.....

 Reese giving me some attitude....wonder which sister she learned this from?  Complete with hand motions.

 My girls....

 And without fail, about 4 seconds into shooting....someone is unhappy

 Getting a little help in the smiling department

 Many of you might see this and think 'what kind of mother lets one try to smother the other?' - well, that kind of mother would be me.  Survival of the fittest people.    

 Give me 'bored'. 

 Reese doing her thing = not bored anymore

 Ryan and her mini-me

 This was my direction:  sing a song.  Reese gave us a rousing rendition of 'Wheels on the Bus' and Ryan gave us a very somber version of 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'.

 Still singing....seriously the saddest 'Twinkle Twinkle' you ever did hear..

 Then our window of semi-cooperation was gone and I was in need of more coffee so we called it a day...

three months

Hard to believe three months has already flown by.....Emerson still rocks.  She usually sleeps through the night (9pm-ish - 6am), sometimes she decides a 3:45am wakeup call is necessary but I can plug a binkie in and cuddle for awhile and she'll go back to bed for me.  I'll post some more pics of my baby in a moment, but I'm going to take the elder crazies to the park to run off some steam......you know, so they don't kill each other.

random

here we go:
anatomy
Listening to a 3 year old and almost 5 year old talk about anatomy is rather comical.  When the girls last took a bath with cousin Christopher they were perplexed by his plumbing...."mom, it looks like a toilet" and "Reesey, Reesey, come here, you have to see this, he has a silly bottom".
An internet appropriate pic:

sports
We took the winter off from sports and activities due to Emerson's arrival but now that Spring is here and we've got this three kids thing down, the girls have been signed up for soccer, tennis, spanish class, swim camp this summer, dance camp this summer, etc....  There has been a lot of talk around here about what and when various things will be happening.  Perhaps this was weighing heavily on Ryan because we were driving in the car a few weeks ago and out of the blue she randomly says "mom......whatever you do, please don't sign me up for hockey".   Let me assure you, 'hockey' has never been discussed, the word not even uttered around here so when I questioned her as to why not she said "because I really, really don't want to have to learn to ice skate".   Fair enough.
netflix
We recently signed back up for netflix.....and, oddly enough, my productivity during afternoon naps severely declined as I am now obsessed with Downton Abbey (currently midway through season 3) and Grant and I sneak in episodes of House of Cards at night.  Amazing television all the way around.  Not so amazing, Ryan has discovered Jem.  As in 80's great, Jem and the Holigrams.  I heard her explaining the difference between the misfits (bad) and Jem and the Holigrams (good) to Reese the other day.
baby weight
Sucks to lose the third time around.  That's it.  But she's obviously worth it....

gwennie
Thanks to a little Facebook pressure, Grant has wisely ordered this puppy

and it should be on my doorstep this afternoon.
photo randomness
Leftovers from Easter weekend.....a family group shot (minus grandma and papa):

We attempted the traditional 'line-up' shot in front of the garage doors (classy we are) but before we could add everyone else in, the sun was proving to be too much for our cast of vampires...

Hanging with my sister and some babes in my parents newly remodeled basement.  And by 'remodeled' I mean cleaned up enough to see the cement floors and 1970s furniture again.

food
My latest pinterest success:  chicken with a creamy basil sauce

not my pic, PS, just so I don't get sued

recipe found here:  http://hopeandjohnbasher.blogspot.com/2012/05/herb-crusted-chicken-in-basil-cream.html
Not necessarily the healthiest sauce (going back to the whole baby weight deal) but if you use sparingly (and a little goes a long way) and pair with a salad, it's a pretty darn good dinner.  Grant was also very happy with the leftovers the next day at work.
bonus shot
Yours truly and my dad...

Easter

We were blessed with some awesome weather again this year.....sunny and warm - perfect for a mid-morning Easter egg hunt.   The whole family was in town to celebrate.  And what a difference a year makes....last Easter I was quietly bummed as the third month of negative pregnancy tests came and went and this year we have been blessed with the best little gift the Easter Bunny could have left:

Grandpa's favorite....

 Numerous discussion points:  we'll start with the obvious....a baby on the roof.  Then there would be Nolan trying to cheat and take an egg after we told all the kids to wait.  Reese with chocolate already on her sweater about 4 seconds after we arrived at Grandmas' and Ryan barking orders, mid-sentence.

 We never did get a real group shot....

Reese had on some really cute black mary-jane shoes for all of about .5 seconds at our house.  She flat out refused to wear them because they weren't as cute as these puppies apparently were/are.  Reese won.  And who doesn't love a warm pair of winter booties in 60 degree weather?

 Ryan was very diligently assessing her stash....

 She looks up to trouble....probably was.

 Emerson slept nice and soundly on Uncle John for a good portion of the day.  When I listen to Uncle John talk I tend to do the same thing....

 Aunt Barbara loving on Ryan....Ryan only allowing the affection in hopes of scoring some sips of Sprite.

 Freak show...

 Her best buddies:  Papa and her what-was-once-pink-and-white-but-is-now-pink-and-gray-blanket.  We'll be tackling that puppy just as soon as we master the potty situation (which, while not Easter related, we have had some good progress in that department - it appears I won't be selling Reese on eBay after all).

 Emerson discovered a new found love of trains...

 Dreaming of chocolate....

 My buddy Chris Martin was a little under the weather yesterday and was tired of me harassing him, so this is his best 'beat it lady' look.

 And back to all things happy......this sweet little pile of yumminess.

Excuse me as I go make the rest of the candy disappear so life, my sanity, my kids sugar levels and my waistline can return to normal......

Birthday girl

For Reese's birthday this year, we decided to do a little breakfast party seeing as donuts are the key to the girl's heart.  And mom really likes dad's bloody mary skills.   Win win.
A little dramatic hesitation as the singing started....nothing a pep talk from dad couldn't cure:

 Now she's into it.....

 Not even a photo bomber could steal her delight...

 The girl got loads of new skirts....and each time she opened up a new clothing item, she'd immediately strip down and put the latest ensemble on.  Aunt Barbara was her Rachel Zoe.

 Bunny ear clips.  Awesome.

 I signed the girls up for tennis this spring so with that comes new accessories (aka weapons)...

 Like I said, stripping down.  New leg warmers from Barb, Bo and Christopher.

 Aunt Mary Lee gave Reese the mothership of all skirts....this little number comes complete with a music box that tucks away nicely in the back.  She can now twirl to music any ole time she wishes.

 Her sister trying to negotiate a trade for the Barbies on the floor.  At one point, we all busted Ryan slipping the new Barbies under her arm and trying to sneak up to her room to play.

 Somebody was unimpressed.

 Jack man getting into the spirit.

 No caption necessary.

 Holding up three fingers....my baby is getting so big.

 People having the time of their lives....can't you tell?

 Thanks to all who helped us celebrate....from near and far!