Must speak with her about parking laws...

Rory Report- 5 Months

Rory,

Five months old? Really? Unlike with your big sister, I know exactly how old you are but it still boggles my mind. How could we have been a family of three such a short time ago? You fit so perfectly into our lives from the first day you were born. We had a Rory sized spot waiting just for you.

You continue to smile and laugh and be the easygoing Rorybear who steals our hearts. You have been practicing sitting up a lot this month and are getting good at it. You will sit in our laps forever with just the slightest touch of our hands. If we situate you right you can sit on your own as well, usually using your hands as a third point. It only lasts a short time, but you are definitely practicing. You roll over to your stomach every time we put you on your back and you love playing with toys that way.

Probably the biggest event for all of us this month was you starting at First Environments. You handled the transition like you do with everything, with a grace and calm that astound us. When we pick you up in the afternoon you are happy as a clam (I never use that expression, but truly, as you smile and coo at us I think that is the most apt description.) Your teachers love you already as does everyone that spends any time at all with you.

Speaking of cooing, you have found your voice. You practice ooos and ahhs and squeals with glee. Your voice is as sweet as your personality and we love listening to you.

Your four month appointment was halfway through this month and you tipped the scales at 15 pounds 11 ounces. Your legs and arms have a roundness we never got to enjoy with Jilli. I never understood people talking about how they wanted to just eat up a baby. But now I know. Your cheeks are like juicy little plums and your belly like a little melon. I can not restrain myself from kissing you all day.

We went to the park over the weekend and you sat perched on my lap watching Jilli and Caroline play. I can tell you are ready to jump in the action. Before long you will run with the other kids, but for now at least, there is nothing that brings me more peace than holding you in my lap, smelling your hair and kissing your head. You are our perfect Rorybear, and we do not remember what life was like before you came along.

Love,
Mommy

Jilli Report -- 33 months

Jilli,

Today you turned 33 months old. Three months from today you will be three years old. It is a testament to your grown-upness that it took some time for me to figure out how many months have passed since your birth. I know that your third birthday looms large. You know it too. We have celebrated many birthdays of late and with each one you ask, "Its my birthday next?" I approach it with the bittersweet feeling of your baby and toddler-hood slipping away. Of course I want you to grow, I just wish I could slow it down about 50%.

You make us laugh everyday. Its the things you say, more often than not. Your reasoning and bargaining skills are exploding and often make for amusing conversations. After I put you in time out last week you said, "But Mommy, you tell me something! (this means I told you something you didn't like, in that case that you had to sit in time out) And that's not nice to me either!" You have a charming and hilarious habit of congratulating us on small victories. Pour milk into a cup? "Good job, Mommy!" Throw the ball to you? "That's a nice one, Daddy!" But we also laugh at the way you dance and sing, and the way you count to eight before jumping off the couch (you almost always land on your feet.) I know that at any point in the day, if I am looking at you, I have a big goofy grin on my face.

You and I both got sick this month. You ran a fever for a few days and had a tummy ache one evening. I aksed you what it felt like and you told me you had birds in your tummy. When I told you I felt sick later you said, "Oh no! You have birds in your tummy?"

I keep noticing you becoming more independent. You have wanted to do things on your own since, well, since you could express any desire whatsoever. Being pretty convinced that your independent streak is only positive we have let you attempt anything that doesn't involve imminent danger. Things are different now though. You get dressed with little help. You can put Rory's paci gently in her mouth. You feed the dogs and let them out whenever we ask you. You can set the table and clean up your dishes. Your lego towers defy the laws of gravity. And you can sit and play in your room, listening to cds and cooking in your kitchen for awhile all on your own. Its all amazing, but again, bittersweet. You don't need us as much as you used to and I think you feel this a bit too. You ask me to play games or do art projects with you. "You help me now, Mommy?" I know how fleeting even this will be. I try to stop whatever I am doing every time I hear your request. Time stands still when we play, and just for a moment, I get to stop the inevitable march towards three.

Love,
Mommy

It's a shame they don't do tv ads

Me, "Jilli, what would you like for dinner?"

Jilli, "I want some Moes!"

M, "Hmmm..."

J, "I want some burritos!"

M, "ummm..."

J, "I want some QUESO!"

M, (dying laughing).

and later....as we watched the US Women's soccer team go for gold while slightly tripping up (fouling) the Brazilians, "Awww SNAP!"

I seized the opportunity and taught her the following phrases to go with the snap...

Squirrel Please!

DE-nied!

Suh-weet!

I feel certain this will help on her SATs.

Going for Gold

As I sit on the couch in the office debating my options for the rest of the evening (I need to go pump, but then I will see how dirty the downstairs is, maybe I should just stay upstairs and read, but my book is in the other room....perhaps I should aimlessly surf the Internet) I have discovered a sport I am certain Jilli will rock.

Olympic trampoline.

She loves to jump. She loves to jump off of things. She often lands on her feet.

I am unclear as to how one gets involved in this sport (and I think there needs to be some sort of protective head and neck gear) but I think Jilli has a good shot at gold in 2024.

Look a Like

Since Rory's birth Jeff and I have both commented on how she and Jilli do not resemble each other. I finally pulled out some of Jilli's 3-6 month clothes and found a favorite dress. When I put it on Rory time rewound 2 1/2 years. Take a look: same dress, same blanket, different baby.

Jilli- 4 months old (March 2006)

Rory- 4 months old (August 2008)

A Month of Birthdays

We celebrated our friends' birhdays, Hazel (1) and Mena (3). At the end of the month we'll celebrate Aunt Patti's (50!). But the month of birthdays is the entire month I have spent celebrating 31.

In mid-July Mom and I visited the Washington Duke Inn for High Tea. It was serene and beautiful, as we sat in front of a huge picture window overlooking a garden. Our server brought fine teas, and the most amazing spread of delicate sandwiches, handmade pastries and tiny cookies Halfway through (and more than halfway through our appetites- but we are women who like to eat-- we persevered) she brought out the most delicious, flaky, melt in your mouth scones I have ever tasted. We chatted for hours about our memories of family vacations, trips we would like to take and the happy events in our lives. A few tables over a mom and grandma sat with two little girls (I can't wait to take Jilli and Makenna when they are a bit older, and in a few more years, Rory).

As if High Tea wasn't celebration enough, I also had a small surprise party with cake and flowers after our big Fife family portrait. On the morning of the ninth, Jeff made me breakfast in bed including waffles cut in heart shapes and fried eggs (for which he combed the internet looking for the perfect directions.) That afternoon I had a massage and when I arrived home many of our closest friends (both in our hearts and geographically)were waiting for me. More food, more cake, more flowers and again the feeling that I am blessed beyond words.

And still, there was more. Cupcakes from a co-worker who cooks dessert for every birthday in our office (nearly 40). And finally, dinner this past Friday evening with my best friend and the best partner. Jeff and I ate dinner at our favorite place, talked and laughed.

I do not know what lies ahead this year. But I know for certain I am loved.

Quieter Days

July was crazy and wonderful here in the Luecking Sunman household. Mom was here from beginning to end and fell so in love with Rory I didn't think she would be able to go home. She made some special memories with Jilli as well, as long as Jeff and I were out of ear shot (Jilli apparently needs us to know that we are her #1, but her two-ness abates a bit when we are away). We spent a long weekend with Angie and got a week and a half with Christian and Makenna. We even got a quick stop in visit with Jerry, Dianne and Connor.

But this week, this first, sweltering, sticky week in August has been almost too quiet. I guess as the dog days really set in its nice to cocoon in the house and be calm. The girls and I were home together today and didn't venture past the backyard until dinner time. Rory slept the day away and Jilli and I joined her (what work? I was supposed to work today?) this afternoon for a blissful 2 hour snooze (the last hour of which had Jilli sleeping literally on top of me.)

Before bedtime for the girls we saw a sweet reminder of our July. Christian and Makenna each loved reading to Jilli. Christian, especially, as he read her to sleep every day at naptime. Tonight Jilli paid it forward and 'read' to Rory. Yes, I know she wasn't really reading but she did a fine recitation of both Biscuit and the Baby and Are You My Mother?, each from cover to cover.

We miss you July, but we keep on making memories around here.

Phraseology

Jilli:
"Mom, I need a tasty snack."
"Sharkbait, Sharkbait, Have you any wool?" (Pixar and retro nursery rhyme in one)
"That's enough kisses." (a few nights ago, as I tried to steal just one more at bedtime, Daddy got the extra snuggles.)
"There's too much people in my bed." (as Jeff and I tried to convince her that we could all snuggle together before she went to sleep, Daddy got the boot that night)

What a long way we have come from around a year ago when she had us in hysetrics lifting up her shirt and pointing to her, "BELL-BUTT!" (thats a belly button, by the way).

Sisters