Baby Lola!

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My lifelong friend (our parents met in Lamaze class :) Jen and her adorable husband Zach had their baby! Penelope "Lola" Helen Neeley was born in NYC on January 24 - they didn't know what they were having so of course I was thrilled it was a girl :) I've only seen her in pictures but she is SO cute. Jen rocked labor after being a week late and we were texting all day and night in the days leading up to her big arrival - I love the "unknown" time right before a baby is due, even though it's so slow and painful to be overdue and WAIT it is SO exciting. I loved re-living it through Jen 3,000 miles away via lots of texts and phone calls. I am so happy for them to be parents and can't wait to meet LOLA!

I was jealous Jannie was out in NYC the week after she was born to work the NY Gift Show with Ann and Arte Italica. She got to meet Lola!

Jen and Zach braved the Brooklyn to Manhattan trip in to have dinner w Ann and Jannie with a barely 1 week old - impressive parenting already!

Can't wait to hold you Baby Lola!

Happy Birthday JANNIE!!!

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We love our Jannie!!! It's her birthday today and we get to take her to lunch with the girls and then have a real adult dinner with my siblings, Grampa and Emmy. (JJ has turned back to her Dragon screaming so dinner out is not so fun right now, unless it's at Bumble of course :) The girls are working away on birthday cards for their Jannie right now...

We love all the cute clothes Jannie spoils the girls with (in line at 7am for these Missoni for Target sweaters!) AND of course the JanKnits she pours her heart into (sorry about those wool vests that went through the wash after wear ONE Jannie!

It's always a rush to the table for "I'm sitting next to Jannie!"

I'm so lucky to have a mom like Jannie - who taught me to be a fun mom to my girls too (I hope I am half the fun/good mom she was, although she holds the record for sitting on the floor playing board games with us/the girls for HOURS. I'm working on the stamina :)

Happy Birthday Jannie!

Janie ~ 11 months

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My little JJ! You are 11 months - hard to believe you will be ONE in a few weeks! You have taken a few steps and are pretty steady on your feet but you haven't really started walking yet (your sister's both walked a little after their 11 month birthday - no pressure JJ :) Just kidding we like your one-leg-up crawl and you sure do love to be held. Lately when we put you down you throw an impressive tantrum with your forehead to the floor crying real tears - such the drama queen!

You love REAL food (no more baby stuff) and will eat a whole banana every chance you get. You love pasta, fruit, meat, veggies - pretty much anything put in front of you.

If you sisters have a lollipop and you don't you LOSE your mind. We give in to the sticky hands.

You still sleep well and take great naps- 1 or 2 a day, usually for 2-3 hours. You are a great sleeper, thank you JJ!

You are a talker too! Not as much as Francie was but more than Maisie did at this age. You say "Hiyyyy. Hiyyyy." to anyone who walks by. You say "Dada and Mom-mom-mom." A doggie says "ugh-ugh" and a monkey says "oo-oo" and a bunny scrunches her nose. You say "Hiyy DAD!" sometimes. You say Em-Emmmm for Emmy! (don't worry this was just to move the car in the driveway :)

You emphatically shake your head NOOOO when you are not interested in something.

You use baby signs "All done" usually in the high chair when you want to get down or bathrub when your sisters attack you. You are getting Please, Thank You and More (more is your pointer fingers crossed in the air back and forth :)

You love to POINT at people and when they lean in you stick your finger in their mouth. Even strangers :)

You give great open mouth kisses - nice and slobbery!! And you love that binky...

From FEBRUARY GIRLS

we sure love "That Little J" :)

Weekend Recap

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Friday night we had dinner at Jannie and Grampa's before Jannie jetted off to NYC to help Ann with Arte Italica stuff at the Gift Show. Uncle James, Uncle Jerry and "Big Brady" were there to entertain the little stinkers. Brady wanted to make sure I blogged this (hi to his cute wife Kristen!)

Francie goes straight for Jannie's American Girl collection every time. Grampa asked Francie if this was the United Nations crib

Jannie iPad always gets a workout when we are over there too- Jannie spoils them with screentime and they know it!

Throw in a little chocolate chip cookie baking to round out the night

Delish

Uncle Jerry juggling the big girls. Jannie is making these CUTE hats for all of them and Uncle Jerry bribed them with a dollar that is hanging out of Maisie's hat to say "Dolla make me Holla Honey Boo Boo child!" (have you seen THIS video? Ann showed me)

and speaking of hats, Thursday Jannie met us at the park for a little sunshine fun (winter has yet to show up?) Janie sporting her cute new hat and hand-me-down JanKnit sweater, love the combo!

Thanks Jannie!

"Come on, paparazzi, no pictures please."

Saturday the girls put on a puppet show with the "Rainbow Fish" props and giant story board we got on our school supply store field trip Thursday (you can now call Emmy Teacher Belding - she is amazing! The girls did a science lesson and wrote words today. You rock Emmers.)

more playroom fun (sorry playroom pics always end up yellow!) with a random picture of my Crazy Maisie - looking fine in her mermaid-used-so-often-it's-falling-apart-dress, Ariel goggles and Ariel purse. That's my girl.

Then Saturday night we met some friends for dinner at Bumble - Heff got cornered by 5 monsters under 5

and Francie with her friend at Bumble who is another regular :) she loves to put on her apron and clear plates and "take orders!"

Janie girl on a double date - don't let that high chair get too close ;)

Closing down the place - not sure how they are "helping" mop the floors by sitting on the chairs but they claimed they couldn't leave until they finished cleaning

Adios to Hawaii

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I have to finish posting the last of our Hawaii pics to remind me of the sun as I sit here cozied up by a fire! I have been running around like crazy since we got back so I've been a very lazy blogger - lots of Instagram photos to post :)

Back to Hawaii- we soaked up the sun on the last few days, lathered on the aloe to make up for it and said bye to ABA on Saturday (she left a day early since she had THREE flights to get back to Nashville).  We packed up Sunday for our 2pm flight home only to sit in the sun at the Kona airport (not as fun in airplane clothes) while a mechanical delay kept us from boarding for THREE HOURS. They finally announced the plane had a broken fuel pump and would fly with one engine to Honolulu to transfer everyone to different flights. Um, no thanks! We booked ourselves on the same flight the next day and went back to the hotel with our carry on bags. Monday was like groundhog day only not as good without bathing suits, enough diapers or toothbrushes!! We finally got home Monday night… travel delays are such a pain but it was still worth the trip :)

Janie says "WHAT? We have to stay an extra day? ok."

"Sure I'll take some frozen watermelon at my lounge chair"

ABA and JJ got some good bonding time in!

Sandy beach swimming time

Sushi dinner - plus pasta for JJ

In her own seat - pretty happy as long as she has mom's phone

Bananas and a smoothie for breakfast

and our breakfast :)

Janie wearing ABA's old sunhat with her name embroidered on it- people kept calling JJ "Ann" :)

had to celebrate ABA's last day

Trying to get Jannie to watch Baby Einstein to keep her occupied for 2 minutes. Didn't work.

Little more sun

DOn't leave ABA!!!

Sunday ride to the airport in the cute taxi baby seat - ROUND 1 of 2

Awkardness at the airport - this guy was taking pictures of Jannie the entire time we waited to board!!

Monday morning breakfast at Hualalai - in last pair of PJ's (which she wore until we got home!) 

"Are we really going home now?!"

PJ Wednesday

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How lucky are these girls to get to play with Emmy all morning! They are having a PJ day while I'm getting some work done at Bumble - the stomach bug is working it's way through the girls, no fun at all. Maisie had is last week (lucky Dad) and Francie woke up at 5am throwing up the morning after I got home - she threw up then goes "Aw MAISIE! You gave me your sickness!" What a sister :)

"WHAT?! Let's go back to Hawaii Mom - I don't want to get it next."

And Finally...

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The parallel pic just a few months late! Francie and Maisie both went to Hawaii (Kona coast) when they were 5.5 months old - Janie had to wait until she was 11 months old!

Francie and Maisie in Kona (2008 and 2009)

Janie 2012 - a little bigger and a little more attitude

now you won't have to explain the "Uncle Jerry photoshop Hawaii trip" when you get older J

She sure is a big girl :)

and a lot more mobile than the 5 month old babies had when we took them to Hawaii! JJ wore me out :) but it was fun to have her there and even though Heff offered to take all 3, I might not have known what to do with myself for a week with NO children!

Hawaii - January 2012

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Janie's hawaiian adventure is almost over! We've had an awesome week hanging out with my sister and Christian for a girl's getaway - we were spoiled to get to sneak away for a week of relaxing, beach time, pool fun with JJ, cocktails and hanging around in pj's laying on our laptops. Thanks Heff, Jannie and Grampa and Emmy for taking good care of my big girls so I could do this!!

Little Glamour Girl (she learned how to say ABA and a few more animal sounds, ALMOST took her first "step" (don't worry Heff, she's waiting on the real thing to show her Dad and sisters ;) and started baby signing more on this trip - amazing what a little only child time can do for a third kid!)

Early morning walk with ABA and JJ. Janie must have a serious internal clock. She slept in a pack-and-play in a bathroom all week (just like she loves it dark and with a fan on!) and woke up at 6:45/7 every day which as 9am at home when she usually wakes up!

fancy hat JJ (her other new word her Dad thought her is "hhhat"

"Now THIS is the life."

wide angle iPhone lens (thanks James and Em for the fun christmas present) from my chair while Jannie napped in her stroller - ahhhhhh

sunbathers (ABA might kill me for posting :)

pretty happy

sista-sista

little almost walker

an AWKY picture but just wanted to remember how much I love this little stinker attached to my hip while I try to get ready in the morning - she loves being in someone's arms and I've almost mastered the mascara and eye-liner with-one-hand-while-keeping-the-other-part-away-from-her-hands thing. I love those chunky thighs and cute little feet - especially in her lounge PJ's :) When did she get so big?!

Baby pool time (JJ got Fruit Loops and Goldfish crackers delivered poolside to rival mom's Ginger Blossom cockatil :)

love a sleeper

so sad - dropping ABA off at the front for the airport (she left a day early since she has THREE flights to get back to Nashville - 2 days of travel!) Glad you came all this way Baby Ann!!

I was sticking my bottom lip out about this too JJ

"Ahhhh our trip is almost over?!"

More Weekend

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Sunday morning we also hosted the Baby Gear Yard Sale at Bumble. Francie, Maisie, Janie and Clara were big helpers. We even made signs and had tags for all teh stuff! The girls had fun being salesladies but we didn't have many buyers that morning so the Swap was kind of a flop! Maybe in the spring? We sold 2 strollers and a carseat. Oh well it was something to do on a Sunday morning!

 

Maisie was more excited I "found her new trike!" (they have these overalls at Target right now for $16. Love them!)

Big girls walking home from Bumble (yes Francie loves this outfit right now)

and Sunday night we took the big girls and Emmy, Kat and Donald to see Cirque du Soliel Michael Jackson with a bunch of friends! It was a little crazy but a good show.

"What the heck is this all about? I just want to eat my hot dog" Luckily they took a potty break with Dad and Emmy for the Thriller scene!

Big show for big girls (Janie and Oliver stayed home with Lauren the awesome babysitter!)

JJ says "I'll show you for leaving me out"

 Oh and big girl went to gymnastics Saturday for a few hours - we were downtown and a friend picked her up to go play so she picked out this REAL gymnastics outfit from the kids clothing store downtown. We sent her and her friend in with $20 to shop!

Weekend Fun!

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Just some pictures from our weekend! We called this pictur eof Janie the "Missoni Medley" and yes passed this outfit down to our friend Chloe immediately after she peeled it off.  I am kind of overloading on Instagram pics versus REAL ones :) But it's so easy and the Instagram feed is fun! I am maryandheff if you are on there too :)  So this weekend Kat and Donald came to hang out - which is exactly what we did! Bumble brunch, walks, park, target, making cookies, cousin baths and family dinner. Very exciting :)

 

Superstars after bath time

Kat and I can't get together without a trip to the Redding OR Sunnyvale Target :) It wore JJ out

Walk to the Redwood Grove - J loves a shoulder ride

Friday night dinner waiting for Kat, Donald and Oliver to arrive - SPOT pizza on the counter, don't forget the ranch (cute plates from Shannon!) 

Saturday night cousins bath after dinner - Rub a dub dub dub... dub dub.

Francie is into dress up and helping with chores. Here's what happens when the two meet.

Popsicles for dessert while baking cookies with Aunt Kat (Oliver sitting like a big kid, yes he is seriosuly only 15 months old)

 

Girls and Work

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Last night we had dinner at Bumble with some of my favorite AT/BB girls! Janelle is busy as a nurse now (she used to run the show at Academic Trainers for 6 years!) we got together to catch up with Sarah and Rashelle. I had a crazy busy day at work but it was nice the girls came with Emmy to hang out for lunch, Francie had another lunch date with Jannie, Brian took the little girls home for naps and then they all came back for dinner at Bumble before we walked home to chill out!

JJ at Bumble sneaking some of her sister's choco milk

and a little lap nap while I worked on my laptop

and finally snuggled up at home on the couch- long day at work! :)

Just Some Pics

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Love this series of pictures Emmy took of Little J! Those are totally "her faces." My little ham...

Hollywoods in the double stroller (this stroller ROCKS- we joke it's Emmy's new boyfriend, life changing for walking downtown with three kids!!)

Yesterday Jannie picked up Francie from school (first day back since before Christmas- I'm scared for REAL school once we start, it's such a pain to have a schedule!) and they had a fun afternoon going to the Dutch Goose for lunch and games and then Jannie's house to make a doll quilt - then came to Bumble to play with the girls and I for a few hours. FUN day.

Maisie found these links at Bumble and made earrings, a "tutu" and a necklace. She wore the earrings home and until she went to bed!

If you are on my Instagram feed these picks are all old news - but Bathtime Ariel never gets old.