On Our Own

This week the girls and I are on our own while Ben is away at school for the week. We are having lots of playdates and staying super busy. So far doing everything on my own with two is going pretty well, I even managed to go get my hair cut yesterday and they were both perfect angels. Here is proof we are alive and the girls are happy and having fun, Quinn even tried to give a little half grin!

Splashpark Fun

On Memorial Day we met our friends Ethan, Kendall and Ms. Caroline at the splashpark. It was our first time for the summer and we had a great time. Ellie and Ethan enjoyed the water while Kendall and Quinn did some sleeping on their mommies. We are looking forward to many more days at the splashpark and the pool this summer.

Cousins

On Saturday Quinn got to meet her cousins for the first time. They loved holding her and Quinn did a great job letting them hold her. We tried to get a cousin photo and it was pretty good for 5 little ones.

A Day At The Zoo

This past Friday we went to Asheboro to the North Carolina Zoo. Ben has been many times since he grew up in North Carolina, but it was a first for me and the girls. We were so excited to take Ellie to the zoo at this age since she knows the animals and is talking so much these days. We also got to use our new stroller for the girls that our friends gave us since they don't need it anymore and it was great. Ellie just took it all in at the beginning and needed time to warm up to all the people around. By the time we got to the side with the elephants she was excited. She loved the elephants and said they were just like "Wrinkles" (her stuffed elephant at home). We saw many animals and had a picnic lunch. We had a great time! Ellie did a great job and listened very well, which was a huge deal since she skipped her nap that day and it was a very busy day. Quinn on the other hand got many naps and also did very well cruising along in the stroller or sling. Here are a few pictures of our adventure:

Reading Time

Ellie decided to read Quinn a book the other day and Quinn seemed to enjoy herself. I am sure there will be many more moments like this one. It makes my heart very happy to see Ellie loving on her sister like this!

Mickey

Our family is growing by leaps and bounds. This past month we not only added a sister for Ellie, but she got her first pet fish! We are now a family of 6 with 4 people and 2 pets. We wanted to get Ellie a fish for her room so that she would have a special pet and we can begin to teach her responsibility of taking care of a pet. We went to the pet store and got our supplies and looked at the fish and the next day we went to pick out our fish, who Daddy has said is a boy as he needs a boy buddy around here, and so his name is Mickey as these little fish are known as Mickey Mouse fish. So far Mickey is enjoying his new home and Ellie is enjoying having him swim around in her room.

One Month Old Quinnytunes

On Monday Quinn turned one month old. Ben and I can not believe how fast it has gone and that she is already one month old. She is a wonderful baby. She eats great and sleeps well. She has been staying awake longer and is extremely tolerant of her sister and her active lifestyle. She loves getting held by Ellie and loves Ellie squeezies. A week ago she slept through the night and we are thrilled. At this time Ben feeds her around 8-8:30 a bottle and then she sleeps until 3:30-4:30 when I feed her, occasionally longer, then she goes back to sleep for 3-4 hours. We know we have been truly blessed with this little girl and are so happy to have her in our home. Just the other day Ben said to Ellie that we have a great little family here and I could not agree more. Below are Quinn's one month pictures and of course Ellie wanted to join in so I got a sister photo session as well :)

We went to the doctor for her one month check-up this week. The doctor said she looked and sounded great and she gained a whole pound this month, which is great, especially for our little ones!

Weight: 7lb. 12oz. (about the 12th percentile, which is usual for us to be in the lower percentile)
Height:  21 inches (45th percentile)

Following in her sister's path little Quinn is long and lean :)

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day this year. It is a true gift to be the mother to two beautiful and healthy little girls that I happen to think are the most beautiful girls around :). I have wanted to be a Mom since I was very young and when I was 5 I said I wanted to be a teacher, a wife and a mom and I have to say that God has given me the true desires of my heart. Every day is full of challenges and joys and I am stretched and challenged as a mom and as a woman of Christ. I pray daily and sometimes by the minute that I am the mother that my children need and deserve and that I give them not only love, laughter and fun but that I know how to train and shape the will God has given them. It is only through God's guidance and leading that I am able to be the mom I am and that I am able to become the mom I want to be every day.
At this stage my special day is driven by Ben since the girls are too young to even know the day is any different than the rest. My special day actually started a few days early when my own mom sent me flowers (sunflowers and pink roses, which are some of my favorites) to let me know how much she loved me and thought of me as a mom. On Sunday, we went to church and got to introduce Quinn to a lot of people and some very special people in our lives. Then the girls and I ran a few errands and then the girls took a nap and I even got a little nap in too. Ben does not have Maxlife on Mother's Day so it is nice to have him home all afternoon. He got me my beautiful hanging baskets for our front porch, which I love, from him and the girls and then he got a cards from him and one each from the girls, Ellie adds her own artwork to hers. I also got cards from other family members and were very special to me. We then went downtown to eat at Mert's, which is a soul food restaurant here in Charlotte. We went there last year and it is very good and also has no line, which is an extra bonus when you have little ones. On the way home stopped for dessert at a favorite place of mine for some salted caramel brownies. It was a wonderful end to a wonderful day full of feeling very loved from my family both immediate and extended as well as friends!