The big 3-0

I turned 30 on April 29th.  I am blessed to have been given 30 wonderful years, but it is a bit depressing to be out of my 20's.   I had a great time celebrating with the family.  They always make me feel so special!

Family pictures

Roommates

Last month we moved Alex into Mary's room.  Lucy now has the crib in our room (even though she doesn't sleep in it), Mary got Alex's toddler bed, and Alex got a twin bed from my aunt Cindy and uncle Mike.  It was a pretty easy transition, and Mary had no problem going to a toddler bed.  They do talk and play around a lot after we put them down at night though.  Hopefully it will decrease in frequency and duration after the novelty wears off.  Mary has been a bit more fussy lately, and I think it's because she is not getting enough sleep.

Alex doesn't take naps everyday anymore, but I make him stay in the now-playroom for an hour or two while Mary takes a nap.  Some days he comes out looking pretty tired though, and one afternoon he actually fell asleep on the couch.  I had to take a pic, because my kids usually don't fall asleep anywhere except their beds.

These guys are best buds.  One morning they were cuddling on the couch while watching a show.  They kept changing positions, but Mary kept her arms around Alex the whole time.  So sweet!

Alex loves to teach Mary things and correct her mistakes.  Sometimes it's Mary doing the correcting though. As I have mentioned before, Alex is fascinated by space, and a few of his books are older and still include Pluto in the list of planets.  I  tell him not to include Pluto, but sometimes when he is rattling off the list he forgets and Mary is quick say, "No, Alex.  Pluto is a dwarf planet."  It's too funny :)

Eczema issues

For an unknown reason, Mary's eczema is worse than ever, and I have scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist.  I am hoping he will be more helpful than her pediatrician and will suggest something other than steroid cream.  Despite being bad for the body, steroids only take care of the symptoms.  I need to figure out the cause, and am starting to consider that it might be diet-related.  From what I have read, gluten and dairy are the most common culprits.  My kids live on gluten and dairy products, so I hope she doesn't starve if she has to be put on an elimination diet!  Luckily, since so many people are allergic to these things, there are lots of alternative products available.  So I guess it won't be hard to find things for her to eat, it will just be a lot more expensive! I also think she may be allergic to something in the air, as she has had a runny nose for over a month now.  I may take her to an allergist as well to see what we can find out.  It doesn't bother her terribly, but I do catch her itching from time to time, and new spots have appeared on her body.  Hoping to get some answers and relief for her soon!

Terrific Trio

March happenings

Even though March/early April seemed to go quickly, it didn't feel like we were that busy with outside-the-house activities.  It was confirmed when I looked through the pictures and realized that most of them were taken at home. The weather has also been really crappy, so that has probably contributed.  It has been nice though, just staying home and enjoying my three littles.  I love to just sit back and listen to them talk to each other.  During car trips it always makes me chuckle as I listen to Alex explain the world to Mary from the perspective of a 3 year old :)

Sister photo shoot with matching outfits.  Look at Lucy's squishy belly :)  Even though she is small, she is pretty chubby.  She is around 5% for length, but 30% for weight.

Alex was having enough by the end, and wanted to get in the picture too.

We celebrated the feast day of St. Joseph by make a simple St. Joseph altar craft.  Someday I would like to make a real altar like the one here.

Like I said, the weather has not been too spring-like around here lately.  There have been several warm days sprinkled in, but we have also been getting lots of snow dumped on us (there were seven snowstorms between March 1st and April 23rd!).  Kind of depressing, but hey, the kids think its great and love to get bundled up to go play in it.

Snow angels :)

Alex got on top of the mound of snow and said he was the Statue of Liberty.  I guess the lesson we did on America a few weeks ago sunk in :)

Here are a few videos from the last few months.  The first one is of the kids dancing in the kitchen, and the second is my future astronaut/astronomer reciting the words from his favorite space book :)  I have a super cute one of Lucy and Alex, but I still have to load it onto the computer.

Easter 2013

He is Risen! Alleluia!  We had a great time celebrating the joy of the Resurrection and teaching the children why it is the most important day of the year.  We ended up dying eggs last minute the day before.  I had planned to do this during the Easter season at some point, but thought it would be fun to do while daddy was home.  The kids had fun helping and eating colored eggs the rest of the week.  

We had cinnamon rolls, sausage and eggs for breakfast and then went to Mass.  The kids looked at their baskets and went on an egg hunt in the backyard when we got home.  I didn't get an pictures of the egg hunt in our backyard, but did get a few during the egg hunt at my parents house that afternoon (see below).  

Lounging on the couch with my nursling and reading Alex's new space book to him :)

Daddy reading the same book to him a little later.  This kid can't get enough of space-related books.

This is a classic Mary face, one she make every time we have to correct her.  Not sure what we were telling her this time, maybe to share with Issac?

Happy Easter!!