26 weeks preggie pics

I think it's fascinating to compare belly pics from one pregnancy to another. I couldn't find a 25 or 26 week belly pic from my first pregnancy--honestly, I probably wasn't even showing at that point--I had to use a 30 week shot. It's pretty interesting how different each pregnancy is--in every way. This baby #4 is sitting really low and he loves to roll around in the evenings. He gave me quite a kick yesterday when we were out showing the girls some horses on a nearby farm. Maybe he was just trying to tell me he was excited to see the horses too! And he definitely loves sweets. OK, so I just tell myself that for some justification for the weight I've put on. ;)

Now that we're ALMOST 18 months old. . .

Mom made us write down some of the things we've learned in the past 18 months.

We've learned that we still LOVE our bottles. And snuggling with sister. Ok, we don't actually like to snuggle that much, but you just might catch us giving each other loves if you watch closely enough.

We've learned who to go to for candy and ice cream.

We've learned how to be mommy's bestest little helpers in the kitchen!
You sweep everything into a pile so you can stand in it, right?
We've learned how to load the dishwasher.
We're especially good at unloading the knives and glass cups.

We've learned how to test the weight capacity of the dishwasher door--

apparently it's over 50 lbs.

We've learned how to comprimise so that everyone is happy. Look--We even shared our sleep sack with James! Man are we gonna tease him about this photo in a couple years!

Mom wanted to add a couple things. Guess we'll let her.

Clara

Can say:

ba (bottle), wa (water), ni-ni (night-night), ju (juice), da-da, ma-ma, g-ma (grandma), g-pa (grandpa), ju (james), na-na-na-na-na- (no, no, no, no, no--she's really good at this one), up

She loves to:

Play ni-ni

play on tables

Blow kisses

give high-fives

make funny sounds with her lips

Give mommy raspberries on her arm

Play with mommy's belly button

Loves to cuddle with mom, dad, Grandma

Feed herself

Put socks, clothing on (well,tries to)

Dance

Read books

Charm everyone sitting behind her in church

Roar like a lion

Clara is finally starting to walk on a consistent basis.

She's very sensitive and gets easily frustrated if she falls down.

Kate

Can say:

up, wa (water), ba (bottle), ma-ma, da-da, g-ma, g-pa, ca (car), hot, dog,

She loves to:

pet dogs

play ni-ni

dance

jump with 2 feet

play on the table

run in circles

find snacks in the kitchen

read books

snuggle with wolfie

drink from her bottle

put shoes on

help mommy sweep the kitchen

take toys from Clara

distract everyone at church by running down the aisle,

and on the stage,

and un and down the ramp.

Ok, so she might hate me when she's 16 . . .

Here are the girls with some of the latest tricks they've learned. Unfortunately, they did their best "wheels on the bus" before I got the camera, but Kate did save some good finger to nose action for the lens!

Awesome November

Today the kids and I enjoyed a warm, beautiful November day in the garden with Grandma. Kate did a little raking, Clara tried out the big kid swing, but decided the baby swing was more her style, and James generally caused mayhem pulling up lights and stealing baby swings. Eventually we had to go inside so Grandma could get some real work done, but we sure to cherish nice days like this in the North West!

CSI Vancouver

As a mom, I daily double as a crime detective. Someone's crying . . . Why? Did someone else hurt them or did they hurt themselves? Are they even physically hurt? or was it just their feelings? Today's dilemma was particularly complex.

The Victim: Kate
Status: Surface injury to the forehead

The Suspects:

Clara: Bewildered twin sister
Alibi: With Grandma
Bunny: Fluffy playmate.
Alibi: With Winnie the Pooh
Mom: Meany who won't give victim the WHOLE bag of skittles.
Alibi: I'm the mom. I don't need an alibi.
James: Brother who looks like he's trying a bit to hard to look innocent.
Alibi: None. Found at the scene of the crime.

The Plausible Weapons:

Wimpy Toothbrush
Flowery Sunglasses
Menacing, fire breathing Dragon

Possible Scenes of the Crime:

While the Victim was found on the 3rd step of the stairs, it is unknown whether is this in fact the scene of the crime.

Possible crime scene 1: Very messy playroom
Possible Crime Scene 2: Jump house
Possible Crime Scene 3: Basement Stairs

The conclusion of the momma detective is:
Mr. James
with the Dragon
Down the Stairs

Punishment served.
Case Closed.