Clothes...

One of the joys of having another girl is pulling out the clothes bins and seeing the outfits I loved when Clara wore them. When I see Maggie in the outfits it always reminds me of the times and places they were worn before.  Today's outfit brought back memories of the park in Yuba City Clara & I would go to before we moved. These sweet girls bring so much joy to my life.

Clara at 8 months

Maggie at almost 7 months



Good Buddy

 

 Maggie, almost 6 months, reaches out to pet and grab JB.  I think this is the beginning of a good friendship.

As I took the picture of Maggie, I immediately thought of this picture of Clara at 4 months. Today as Clara was yelling at him to get away and stop sniffing her, I reminded her that he just likes her and wants to know what she is doing.  He just wants to be your buddy.  Then, I realized I need to take my own words to heart...

And, just a side note, can you tell these two are sisters?!

Pumpkin Patch

We have had beautiful fall weather these past few weeks.  The mornings have been cool and crisp, with the days warming up enough to really enjoy being outside.  A few friends had posted pictures from pumpkin patches this past week and I really wanted to take the girls.  I had checked the weather forecast earlier this week and I knew the rain was coming....I think I was just in denial.  Even this morning as I dressed and prepared to leave I wasn't believing that the beautiful sunny fall days were giving way to the more dreary days of winter.  It wasn't until I was fully dressed that I looked outside and realized, yes, it is raining.  So, out came the raincoats, on went the rain boots, and on went another layer of clothing for each girl.

It was a little bit shorter of a trip than I had expected, a little soggy, but good times were had by all. = )

 

Grandpa Joe

The week before we left for California we had the pleasure of having Matt's dad, Joe, come to visit.  We hadn't seen him for almost 2 years, so it was nice to be able to catch up in person and for him to meet Maggie!  It was especially fun to watch him interact with Clara.  It took her a little bit to warm up, but once she started talking with him, she didn't really stop!

We had a few outings throughout the week, going to the zoo, taking him to a few of our favorite parks, and a couple nights out to dinner.  Clara was perfectly happy at home, though, entertaining Grandpa Joe with her imaginary friends, Peter & Benjamin, challenging him to games of Sequence and Matching Bears, bringing him books to read and just sitting out on the front porch chatting.  It was really sweet and memorable time!

Yes, Grandpa Joe painted Clara's toenails!  What a guy!  He had been telling her he would for a couple days and she was so excited about it.  Any time someone comments on her polish she is quick to tell them , "My Grandpa Joe painted them!"

We are thankful that he could make the trip out to see us!

 

Apple Harvest

The girls and I just returned from 5 days in California visiting my parents' apple orchard.  This is a wonderful time of year to be there since harvest is in full swing! Clara had a blast!

A tea party with Grandma B was her first request upon arrival! They got out the tea set and Grandma B even had banana bread to compliment the mint tea.

Grandma B tried to get Maggie to partake which wasn't hard since she will mouth anything that comes within arms length!

Clara loves to help in the kitchen.

Picking red delicious apples and riding around in the Jeep with Grandpa. 

We were blessed with beautiful and warm weather while we were there.  The mornings were just gorgeous, with the wind picking up in the afternoons.  We spent Sunday morning walking around the orchard with Lindsay, Andrew and Aly.  It was so fun to watch Clara and see her comfort and ease at being there and how she has really learned so much about what goes on there.

Clara has become quite the runner lately, boots and all! = )

Walking and talking with Auntie Aly

Picking Red Rome apples

Such a happy girl!

Auntie Aly and Mike brought a huge pumpkin that Mike had grown at Avila Barn.

Cruising in the "water wagon" (Dad's Jeep towing a trailer with a water sprayer) to keep the dust down.  She was definitely Grandpa's special helper all weekend long!

Aly, Andrew and I had some great laughs as Lindsay snapped these pictures. I loved getting to spend time with them, just hanging out, catching up and enjoying some laughter.  

This picture seemed to capture the joy of our trip.  The past couple times we have visited Clara has become more and more comfortable with her surroundings there and really anticipates different activities.  She knows the little play structure will be set up in front of the house, knows she and Tio will go collect eggs, knows she will pick apples and go for walks with Grandma B, knows she will drive around with Grandpa, and that we will visit Bear Valley pool for a swim with Grandma B.  It is such a blessing to have certain traditions and routines that she knows she will be a part of and to have family that loves her enough to take the time to share and teach about what they love!

Grandma B had a new pair of boots for Clara upon our arrival!  She broke them in quite well!

Tio and the girls!

Clara checking out one of the heirloom pumpkins.

I love this picture of the girls and my parents!  So grateful for a fun few days with them!

5 Months Old!

Yesterday Maggie turned 5 months old!  I can't believe it and last night realized I am in denial about it.  The realization came when I was trying to jam her foot into 3 month old pajamas.  Maggie is not a small baby (she was almost 16 lbs at her 4 month appointment!), so I think it is time to put away those 3 months clothes and give her some room to stretch and grow.

Here are a few things she is doing at 5 months old:
- Rolls from back to tummy
- Smiles, laughs & "talks"
- Sitting up in Bumbo chair
- Sleeps in crib (finally transitioned her from our room!) from 8 pm to 3 or 4 am, then again until 7
- Has had 6 successful flights to CA!
- Loves to watch and smile at her sister
- Puts anything and everything in her mouth!  Her favorites are burp clothes, my shoulder, and her hands.

And here is her favorite new trick:

I almost forgot to mention the most helpful mom victory I had a few weeks ago with Maggie.  She was having a lot of trouble napping and when she did it was only for 20 or 30 minutes at a time.  One afternoon I tried swaddling her again and it was a huge success!  Now at nap and bedtime I just wrap her up and she falls right to sleep.  Yeah for sleep!

Happy 5 months, sweet girl!

Smiles and Accessories

I have never been the super girly accessory type, but a family gave this outfit to Maggie with the matching socks and headband and I just think it is too cute.  Not to mention the fact that she has been so smiley and photogenic lately!

Lifeguard Clara Take 2

So Clara was at it again today, except we actually set up the pool today.  It has been beautiful here lately and we are trying to soak up every last ray of sunshine before the rain hits.  Clara is making sure all the swimmers in the pool stay safe & that they can properly turn their kayaks around!

After a while she actually got in the pool and "swam" around.  She was competing in a swim race here, (something that Matt started in the bath tub, where he announces her name and event and then starts the race).  It is pretty funny.

Lifeguard Clara

This morning Clara put on her backpack and whistle and was pretending to be a lifeguard.  She was outside and heard her blow her whistle and yell, "Turn your kayak around! (pause) There you go!  You got it!"

I guess she picked up on a few things while observing at the beach in California.  Funny girl.

I think the camera may have been a stand in for a bullhorn.

4 Months Old

At 4 months Maggie is doing great! She is super smiley and a pretty mellow baby. She has started rolling over, and reaches for anything in sight and, like all good babies, proceeds to stick it in her mouth.  She is greatly loved by Clara who requests to hold her and snuggle with her!

No Agenda Vacation

Well, maybe "no agenda vacation" is not totally accurate!  Here was our main agenda for our week in Carpinteria:
1. Walk to Coffee Bean or Crushcakes for coffee and/or breakfast
2. Ride bikes through the campground
3. Eat yummy food throughout the day
4. Read
5. Beverages at Island Brewing Company
6. Play at the park
7. Enjoy family
8. Beach time
9. Celebrate my mom's 60th birthday!

 Each day it was a mystery as to what Clara would want, or more likely, not want to do at the beach.  She continues to have a dislike for sand and depending on the day, would want to be carried across the sand or ride in the jogger.  Above, Tio Rojo has asked her to go boogie boarding and to my amazement, she headed out into the water!  Below you'll see her idea of "boogie boarding"!

Uncle Joe was victorious in getting her in the water and sand this day!  Having her cousins there was a helpful motivation, too!

Maggie really caught onto this whole relaxation/vacation thing pretty quickly! =)
 

Matt with another major sand victory! She watched him dig this whole and was hesitant to get in, but she did it!

 Clara spent hours at this park throughout the week.  One of the highlights was when Grandpa drove over for a quick overnight visit and they played there together.

It is amazing to me how agile and brave she has become over the past couple months.  She is climbing ladders, pumping on the swing, and speeding her tricycle.  It is really neat to see her coordination and confidence grow!

Good times were had by all!