Owen, 3 Months

Merry Christmas!

Today is Owen's 3-month birthday, so it's time to do our monthly update on the little guy.

Today was Owen's quintessential First Christmas! He was super cute and well-behaved, as long as his belly was full. He is definitely this year's best Christmas present...although Anna may contend that her make-up takes that prize. ;)

A few updates from Owen's third month:

• He mimicked for the first time this month...I had made some chocolate mousse and Nate walked over to him and said, "Do you like chocolate mousse? Yes you do, yes you do!" and started nodding his head...and Owen totally nodded back! For a few minutes, if Nate nodded when he said, "Do you like chocolate mousse?" Owen would smile and nod his head. It was probably the cutest moment of the month.
• He got all of his first shots and was a real trooper (meaning he screamed bloody murder then calmed down quickly in his mommy's arms). He jumped from the 12th percentile in weight to the 38th! He is definitely getting chubbier, complete with awesome thigh rolls. 
• He is super duper smiley and happy...a very content little baby. We feel so lucky. He also has started "laughing" a whole lot more - you know, that sucking in air kind of baby laugh that is just so cute.
• He's still spoiled rotten - sleeping in his swing or right next to Mom. Mom informed him that his fourth trimester is officially over and it's time to buckle down and sleep in his own bed. We'll see how well that goes...
• He still loves getting his diaper changed.
• Owen really tries to talk to us now. If you're close and making eye contact, he starts making the cutest little noises with his voice and also likes to blow raspberries, which often involves sticking out his tongue. 
• Tinkle accidents have calmed down. Which, while a little sad since we don't have any good stories, is a very good thing!
• He still likes taking a bath and generally gets made when it's time to get out of the water.
• He is just the cutest little thing ever. We love having a little boy in the family...it's the sweetest!

Happy 3-month Birthday, Owen! We hope celebrating it Christmas-style was fun!

Here he is with the "Growing Giraffe"

Here's Owen mid-sneeze!

Happy 7th Birthday, Cate!

It's official, Cate is 7! It was Cate's "family year" for her birthday, so we had a nice relaxed morning, lunch at Cheesecake Factory, a "party" with presents and red velvet cupcakes that look like cats, and then we headed to San Francisco to ride the cable cars with some friends! On the way home Cate said, "Do you know what part of today I didn't like?" We said, "What didn't you like?" Cate's response: "Nothing!" It was so cute. I must say, the last two days have been a whole lot of fun!! The girls have just been so cute and so content with their birthdays.

When Cate and I were doing her birthday photos this morning, she started doing this with her hands and telling me to take a picture of her hand. I couldn't figure it out, so I asked her what she was doing. "It's a 7!" Again, so cute.

This was the very last shot we took this morning. I LOVE it because she's been making that little scrunched up nose face since she was a tiny baby. I hope it never goes away!

Here's our little angel. She is MUCH more cooperative for photos than Anna! :)

Happy Birthday, sweet Cate! We cannot believe you are 7 years old. It truly feels like yesterday that you were born. You are growing to be a really wonderful young lady...it is just so fun getting to know you as you get older. We love you!

"I can't believe I'm the birthday girl"

Today is Anna's 4th Birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET ANNA!

She was in the cutest, happiest, bubbliest mood all morning. Nate said when he dropped her at school she said, "I can't believe I'm the birthday girl." SO sweet.

She wanted to wear a princess dress today. When it was time to actually go to school, though, she wanted to take it off. We convinced her it was okay to wear it, then she perked up. Then she got to school and got all shy about it again...but after some convincing, Nate got her excited about it again. Our bashful little Anna.

I can't believe she's four. Where does the time go?

Today she's having a "Hello Kitty Glamour Party" where we will paint nails, do Hello Kitty tattoos and makeup. Oh, and everyone gets a homemade tiara (thanks for your help making them, Amy Antonelli!). She loves her cake. The whole time she ate her breakfast she just stared at it. At one point she said, "Mommy, is the back frosting? Can you eat it?" So cute.

Seriously, she won't just smile for the camera. And she totally pulls the whole "it's too bright" nonsense that Nate does every time I take is picture. Almost every shot I took of her this morning looks like this!

We love you Anna!