Pierced Ears

Now that Loren is 5 1/2 she decided that she is old enough to get her ears pierced. I won't lie...I was a little nervous about the idea, but it's her body and her ears! Luckily we had her kindergarten physical at the pediatrician office Thursday 4/29, and she does ear piercing, so we decided to ask her to pierce them. Loren was SO excited to get them pierced. I warned her that it was like a big shot and it would probably hurt. She said she knew and still wanted them pierced. The doctor did the regular physical stuff (she's 45 3/4in tall 84%, weighs 41.4lbs 46%, and her BMI is 13.91, 13%). Then it came time for the piercing, she picked pink earrings. Loren kept saying "I can't believe I'm getting my ears pierced!" I felt bad for her because I knew it was going to hurt! The doctor came in and did the left ear first...Loren CRIED and said to me "I thought you said it was like a shot!?!?" I felt so bad! Then she did the other ear, again Loren cried. The worst part was that she still needed to get a regular shot in her arm (her Hep A shot). So the nurse came in and did that shot and Loren just screamed! I think she had enough of being poked!! Then I look in my lap and Kaylynn is crying as well!! Sympathy tears!!! After 5 minutes, Loren said the ears didn't hurt anymore and the shot was fine!! We've been taking care of her ears and she can't wait to change her earrings in 6 weeks!!

Here are pictures of her newly pierced ears (not sure why she's making weird faces)!

No Training Wheels!

Loren has been asking us to take her training wheels off for a few weeks now, but we've been so busy that we didn't have the time to do it and work with her. Finally Tuesday 4/20 we had an evening free so Joe and I took the training wheels off and worked with her on riding her bike. She did pretty well, she could go on the sidewalk for a little bit, but then would veer into the grass. After a little tumble, she decided that was enough for the evening.

The next day all she could talk about was trying to ride her bike again. That afternoon I took her outside while Kaylynn and Eryn watched and we worked on riding her bike. Again she veered into the grass. I finally had the great idea to go into the street...that's when she really took off!! She could go and go and go!! A few minutes later I taught her how to start going herself and now she's 100% training wheel free!!!

Eryn 6 months

A half year has gone by since Eryn made her way into the world! She seems to be getting bigger every day, I can't believe it! She "talks" a ton and even seems to "sing" in the car! She rolls all over the place, she'll just roll around the room! At story time the other day she rolled clear across the room! She enjoys playing in her saucer trying to put the toys in her mouth. Her favorite toys right now seem to be her apple that hangs from her car seat and her bee toy she got from the Easter Bunny. She still loves to watch Loren and Kaylynn and light up when they come near her! She doesn't quite sit up on her own yet, she will for 30-60 seconds, but then falls backwards or folds herself forward. She seems to like to stand more than sit. She'll also get herself into the crawling position and lunge forward.

We had her 6 month doctor appointment yesterday. She's still growing nicely. She weights 15lbs 6oz (35%), her height is 26.25 inches (65%) and her head circumference is 43.7cm (80%). The doctor said that she has eczema pretty bad. It's all over her body, especially her entire torso, arms, legs...pretty much everywhere but her face. He said to bathe her with Dove soap and put lots and lots of lotion on her along with aquafor. He also said to use hydrocordizone 2x a day on her torso.

Eryn started eating solids last week as well. She stared having rice cereal on 4/11, then had some oatmeal on 4/14, squash on 4/17 and will have sweet potatoes for dinner tonight! She actually seems to be enjoying her new foods...that is when we can get her fingers out of her mouth! She still constantly has her hands in her mouth. Her favorites are the middle two fingers on her left hand. I've been trying to get her to take the binky (since I can then take it away at 2), but she wants nothing to do with that.

Eryn is seriously the happiest baby I have ever seen! She smiles at anyone who will look at her! She only gets upset when she is tired or hungry, but other than that...she'll smile and laugh at anyone and everyone!!

Here are some pictures of Eryn's 6th month of life:

They LOVE playing "doll" with Eryn, but this was the first

time they put her in the doll stroller!!

3/26/10 - She's just so cute!

3/30/10 - Chillin' in the bumbo seat

4/1/10 - All the cousins...Eryn, Loren, Abby and Lily (in Amy's tummy) and Kaylynn

4/1/10 - Eryn LOVES the swings!

4/2/10 - Wearing a cute outfit!

4/6/10 - Loren took this picture of her! I just love that smile!

4/8/10 - Sisters! Loren will go get Eryn is she's fussing or
crying in her saucer or carseat or wherever and
Eryn loves to chill with her biggest sister!

4/11/10 - Ready for her first bite of rice cereal!

Hmm...not too bad!

4/17/10 - First bite of squash...didn't like it at first,
but after a few bites she was loving it!

Easter videos

Easter morning, Loren and Kaylynn found Eryn's basket while looking for eggs:



Loren found her basket while looking for eggs:


Kaylynn finds her basket:


Loren showing Eryn her basket:


Kaylynn trying out her new bike in the living room:


Kaylynn on her new bike outside, it took her a little while to figure out how to pedal it:


Jeremy playing songs on his bass and Loren and Kaylynn singing along:

Easter 2010

Easter 2010 was similar to the past few years. The weekend before Easter we went to Lippold Park in CL for their egg hunt. It was SO crowded! Joe went to find a parking spot while I was to take the girls in for the egg hunt, but when Loren didn't listen to me and refused to put on her coat, she didn't get to come out with me, therefore causing her to miss the hunt. Maybe she'll learn to listen to me next time!

Good Friday we went to Bethany for their Stations of the Cross for families. The kids really listened and learned that Easter is about more than just the "bunny"! The stations were an hour, and the kids really listened!

Then that evening we colored our eggs. This year, per Loren's request, we got glitter egg dye. They turned out fairly well, but were kind of a pain to do! I would do them again, but would use a different plastic bag for each egg for the glitter. Lesson learned!

Easter Sunday, Loren woke up and came out right at 7 (the earliest time she's allowed to come out), but Kaylynn slept in a bit, so Loren hung out in my room for a while. When Kaylynn finally woke up, they really enjoyed looking for the eggs! They found Eryn's basket rather quickly (which was hidden behind the curtains in the family room), then Loren's (which was under the girls' picnic table in the living room) and finally Kaylynn's (which was in the bathroom)! Loren and Kaylynn each got movies, pajamas, sun glasses, bubbles, hair clips, and a piece of candy. Loren also got the game "bop-it" and Kaylynn got a new bike! Eryn got a new blanket, a bee toys for her stroller, a bib, some rice cereal, and a new spoon!

After playing outside for a while, we all got ready and went to Booma and Boompa's house for Easter with the "Harmon's". After eating waaaay too much food, we went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for Easter with Joe's family. It was a very busy day, but the girls enjoyed it and had fun!

Coloring eggs

Daddy and Eryn having a very serious conversation!



Kaylynn putting the "glue" on the eggs before the glitter.




Pretty eggs!





Finding eggs Easter morning!





Kaylynn's basket (Loren got into hers before I could take a picture)!





Trying to get Kaylynn's bike together





Loren showing Eryn her new presents!





Eryn LOVES her new bee toy!!

So big!





On her new bike!!





Egg hunt with Mackenzie and Sean at Booma and Boompa's house





Mackenzie, Sean, Loren and Kaylynn





Me and Adam before he took me for my first ride on his Harley!





Eryn in her pretty dress...just before she "poo-sploded" in it!





Eryn with Cousin Tim at Grandma and Grandpa's





Kaylynn found her Easter basket at Grandma and Grandpa's
house and sneakily got out all the toys and candy!!

Amy's baby shower

We held the Chicago area baby shower for Amy on Saturday April 3rd. We had about 33 people at Moretti's in Schaumburg. The food was soooo yummy, and we even got to take the left overs home! We played three games, baby shower bingo, the necklace game, and how big is Amy's belly! Joe brought the girls about half-way into the shower, so they could have some food and help open the presents! Amy got SO many nice gifts, Abby and Lily are going to be very well dressed babies!

Here are just a few pictures of Amy's baby shower:

The cake and two games (baby shower bingo and necklace game)

Cake, so pretty, but not very tasty.

The favors, red and black buckets with seeds to plant and some candy eggs

Loren, Kaylynn and Eryn's gift to Abby and Lily

Me, Amy and Mom

How may toilet paper squares is Amy's belly at 25 weeks??

Answer...11 squares!

Amy with 2 of her favorite nieces!

Eryn with Aunt Ann

Nice lampshade!

"Good Things Come in Twos" - onesies we got for the babies

Courtney and Eryn

These are all the clothes that my mom got for the babies.

She also gave them a bunch more the next day for Easter!

Adorable diaper cake that Joe's mom made!

Three preggos

Christine (due end of July), Amy (due mid-July) and Meghan (due early October)