Summer Update

Summer ....

WOW time is FLYING!

I can hardly believe that July is ending already. I dread winter so much that the mere thought of it makes my stomach do twists. When we first moved to PA it was a fear of driving in the snow. That has since been pushed aside by the fear of having Emily basically couped up inside for 4-5 months straight.

I am a little disappointed to say that we have yet to go swimming. Our neighbors got a pool this year but on the only day they offered us to swim--it downpoured 15 min later (before I could get everyone dressed). We had to cut out the Y swim lessons in an effort to save money on our budget and because they had switched pools for a few weeks and Emily didnt like the big, cold pool. I had hoped to take her swimming a lot more. The weeks it was nice, we were busy and the weeks we were free it was cold.

Our weather has been strange to say the least. Unbearably hot and humid and then two days later freezing like autumn. Today happens to be a hot day. Emily, Abby and I were out for about 40 minutes (sufficent for me to sweat - even under the boobs).

We really havent done anything extremely fun. We went cherry picking and that was great. We are so tight with money now that even a trip to the zoo is out. Friends gave us Hershey Park tickets that we used 2 Saturdays ago. The weather was great! Emily loved riding the rides...she had a BLAST! Abby enjoyed looking around but mostly enjoyed sleep. We also saw 3 innings of a baseball game (Emily got to run the bases after the game and LOVED IT). We spent a week at my sisters house in Warren PA. First half was great...dont ask about the second half. But I know for a fact now that I would win or at least be a finalist if a contest "Most Disfunctional Family" existed. Canio and I got to go to NY for 1/2 a day to see the Hill Cumorah Outdoor Pagent. It was a rushed trip to get there/get home...but we did enjoy it. It did however get frigid that night...

We are currently reading the Harry Potter book outloud at night once the kids are asleep. Its a great bonding time and we enjoy sharing our ideas about what is going to happen. (I told my brother in law how upset I got when he blurted out ----- lives!) ERR. I love the suspense.

Emily is starting to go pee and poop on the potty. Its going slow but she has now done is quite a lot. She has pooped twice and claims to have pee'd at least 7 times...but she isnt ready to give into it completely yet. She has started sleeping with a night light. This helped at first but now I dont know-- we are back to not sleeping. We will have to see. We got a tinkerbell one that spins, only to have the bulb burn out the 1st night (and sent me into a panic attack) and then moan the next night (sending Emily into a panic attack). I gave Emily a hair cut that is to DIE for. Its awesome. It is layered and it falls and frames her face beautifully. Yes, I will be cutting hair now for a charge! HEHE. Emily's last check up said she was 35.5" tall (almost 3 ft) and 30.3 lbs. She now eats ravoli (her fave), pizza, chicken nuggets, roast beef, turkey, french fries, bruschetta, onion rings (yes I said ONION rings) and after 2 yrs of trying--mashed potatoes and also hot dogs (as long as we call it ham...this is the same for HAM, and Bacon too). Her sayings are getting funnier than ever. She now likes Abby. She likes to pretend with dolls...or anything that maybe laying around (example-- the shampoo bottle is the "doctor" when she is taking a bath). She is trying to learn to color inside the lines. When she thinks I am hurt/sad/etc she will say... Its ok Honey. If you discipline her- she will say afterward... Are ya happy mommy? If you say no..she cries and says Please dont be mad at me mommy. The funniest thing of this week is when she wanted to clean the toilet (yes she is strange but she gets kicks from scrubbing the toilet) and as she first started cleaning the one she pooped in she sniffed and then said.... EEEWWEE Peee You. Cucky. Mom, dat smells like old poop.

Abby had her 4 mo checkup this week. (Time is flying there-- it seemed to take us forever to get to 4 mo w/ Emily and when I see Abby I am constantly shocked at what she can do). A friend said its because w/ the first you are waiting for them to hit milestones so it takes longer... with the second, you are just happy they are eating/pooping and sleeping, and with the 3rd you are just happy you can account for all 3. Abby is growing like a weed. She now wears 3-6 mo and easily fits 6 mo. She is 26" long (thats the 97%) and 14.5lbs (75%) and her head is 20" (95%). She is laughing, giggly and full of smiles. She only cries when hungy or tired or attacked by Emily. She goes to sleep without being fed, rocked, or held...but does need the binky but only for sleep! She loves her stuffed pig that she got in the hospital. And has now begun to notice EVERYTHING. She can grab things and play with them and she is teething. She likes to stand or be sitting up. Her hair is still red/auburn/or some call it strawberry blonde. My mom recently saw her and said she looked JUST like me and it made her feel like she was holding me. Oh and she talks....aaahhhh akkk and blows raspberries.

Here are some recent photos. if you want more photos email me.