September for the Smiths

I'm going to jump right in to the happenings of life lately.  With the end of August and start of September, much has happened around here:

• Mothers Day Out for the older 3 girls began
• Shiloh began Pre-K 
• M&M turned THREE 
• Aurora turned 4 months 
• Awanas for all of the girls started
• I decided to be the Cubbie's Director for our church
• I'm doing more for the Women's Retreat Committee, (the retreat is Oct. 17-19)
• Marc has been traveling a little more for work
• One thing that hasn't happened for me is working.  At the last minute, I realized that I wasn't ready to leave Aurora to work.  It was very bittersweet for me because I absolutely loved teaching at Mother's Day Out last year, but I just wasn't ready to leave Aurora.  I knew it was the right decision, but there were still many things about it that were hard; however, getting the sweet one on one time with her is absolutely irreplaceable and for that precious time, I am grateful.
• Marc and I got to go to a Baylor game at the NEW stadium!!
• We got to have a Labor Day party with my family just like when I was a kid- parade and all :)
• I chopped my hair off and donated it to Locks of Love
• McKenzie and McKinley started ballet
• Shiloh started gymnastics
• COMING SOON- The girls big birthday bash at Chuck E. Cheeses!  They wanted a Frozen themed (of course) Chuck E. Cheeses party

Here's the photo journal of the past month and a half:

Aurora's 4 Month Picture

Smiley Aurora ready to go

My Hair soon to be donated

Pop, Oma & Aurora

McKenzie and the Battle of the Mosquitos (they won this round)

McKenzie, McKinley & Shiloh strolling down the runway at Sweet Sassy right after they got their hair cut

Pops and Aurora

(We've started a fun, family tradition of eating dinner at their house on Sunday evenings)

Seeing Frozen at the Library

Daddy and Aurora Napping

Smiley Aurora

McKinley asking if this could be her new bed

Fun at Breakfast one morning

Opening Ceremony of My Family's Labor Day Party

The Winning Relay Team

The Girls Cheering for Daddy, "Go Daddy, Go Daddy"

Swimming at Ninos

My Grandma and Aurora

Shiloh's First Day of Pre-K

McKenzie & McKinley Ready for School

McKinley Ready for Preschool 2s

McKenzie Ready for Preschool 2s

 At the Baylor Game!

Shiloh, Zee & Lee at the Slumber Party at Pops and Omas

Me and Aurora (napping) Cheering on Baylor

Becca & Me at Church 

M&M Turning 3!!

McKinley at Build a Bear on her birthday

McKenzie at Build a Bear on her birthday

At lunch celebrating the BIG 3

McKenzie & McKinley ready for Ballet

Shiloh practicing her back bend at Gymnastics 

McKenzie

McKinley

At Gymnastics

Marc's Sweet Lunch for the Girls one day

Rory trying to sit

Little Bug Still Likes the Swaddle

 Marc and I at a Murder Mystery Dinner 

(I'm giving him the eye b/c he wouldn't pose for me)

This was the best(/most normal?) pic I got

Rory giving Oma snuggles

Milestones:

Aurora (4 1/2 months):

- she can roll back and forth and grab objects with this method

- she is pulling her legs up under her (the early crawling position)

- she can inch-worm/scoot forward

- she can reach and grab things

- she is still super smiley and very easy going

McKenzie (3 years old):

- she's learning her letters (recognition), right now she can identify about 8-10

- she's learning number recognition (knows 1-10)

- she's learning to count to 20

- she tells make-believe stories

- she's very sensitive and gets her feelings hurt when she gets in trouble

- she's also an emotional roller coaster these days (goes up and down pretty quickly)

- her three year old tantrums have shown reared their heads lately

- she is memorizing bible verses for Awanas

- she likes to get a reaction out of people (this is showing itself nicely and not-so-nicely these days)

McKinley (3 years old):

- she's learning her letters (recognition), right now she can identify about 8-10

- she's learning number recognition (knows 1-10)

- she's learning to count to 20

- she tells make-believe stories

- she is a little more even keeled

- she is quite talkative and you often find her and Shiloh talking non-stop

- she is memorizing bible verses for Awanas and seems really into it

- she gets really angry when she gets in trouble (it's really sad but kind-of cute) and will say stuff like, "I'm not forgiving you," but with a very sweet & sad voice

- what's not so cute is the three year old tantrums that involve screaming in my face... these have also begun

Shiloh (4 years 11 months):

- she's hit a big cognitive development with reading and has sounded out some words all by herself

- at school she's begun "Popcorn" words, which are sight words so she's able to recognize even more than we've been doing together (a, and, the, like, for, it, at - some more but I can't think of them)

- can do basic addition equations with and without pictures (ie 5+3= )

- started Awanas and LOVES it

- she loves telling jokes and making people laugh

- I taught her how to hold Aurora while standing and has taken her big sister role even more excitedly since

- she LOVES being a big sister and is SUPER helpful with Aurora (she just told me, "Mom, I really love Aurora!")

Sweet Aurora Lane is 3 months old

3 months ago today, I was blissfully holding our newest baby girl in the family!  Everything about her arrival was wonderful and of course meeting her was surreal, beautiful and any other adjective that describes an amazing, life-changing moment! 

These past three months have been spent getting to know sweet little Aurora and our entire family is smitten!  Shiloh, being such a first born, has taken on protecting her and letting me know what she needs.  She also treats Aurora as a real baby doll and frequently asks me to help dress Aurora up in a tiara, hat or even costume. 

McKenzie and McKinley also view Aurora as a baby doll.  They love calling themselves "Big Sister," and feeling like big girls.  Most of the time they continue to play and do their own things, but they'll stop and try to include Aurora occasionally, which then will bring protector Shiloh in the mix.  It's adorable.  :)

 

 

 

 

I'm trying to record her milestones on the blog so here goes:

Aurora:
6 weeks: At 6 weeks Aurora began smiling frequently at us and often in response to attention!  We have all loved getting that happy, gummy smile from her.

3 months:
Our little Aurora is VERY easy going.  She rarely fusses and is very generous with her smiles.  She has started to giggle, coo and "talk" to us, which is so much fun.  She is also rolling from her front to her back and trying to go the other way but just can't quite do that yet.

McKenzie (2 years and 11 months old):
- tries to turn anything that she can into a silly moment (especially if she gets in trouble)
- outgoing and bubbly
- somewhat talkative, but more interested in playing
- increasing fine motor skills; likes squirting with a water bottle, painting, writing (no letters or tracing yet), scissors
- has started attempting to color in the lines
- loves to dance with sisters (especially to "Let it Go" from Frozen
- has shown us that she's quite sensitive and gets her feelings hurt easily
- fully potty trained (only uses a pull up at night)

McKinley (2 years and 11 months old)
- is a little more reserved
- very talkative lately, loves telling stories
- has shown us that she has a very strong will :)
- increasing fine motor skills; likes squirting with a water bottle, painting, writing (no letters or tracing yet), scissors
- can color in the lines if she wants to
- loves to dance with sisters (especially to "Let it Go" from Frozen)
- fully potty trained (only uses a pull up at night)

Shiloh (4 years and 10 months old):
- has taken a gymnastics camp and learned how to do a backbend, cartwheel, and different types of summersaults
- loves to sing to frozen
- memorizes lyrics to songs really well
- can sound out some 3 letter words (usually still with help)
- has started addition and subtraction (using fingers)