Rolling

Here are the pictures of Gemma reaching and arching. Slow DOWN baby!

Ferry ride

Gemma's first ferry ride this morning!

13 weeks

Gemma is 13 weeks old! We are home on a Saturday for the first time in several weeks, so we pulled the camera out for another bonus week of pictures. We have big plans to go apple picking as a family this morning and lay low for the rest of the weekend. Our weeks have become so....overwhelmingly busy, we need the weekend more than ever to recharge and recover.

So, Gemma.

Gemma is obsessed with her hands. She holds her own hands, tries to shove both hands into her mouth at the same time and uses them to hit at and grab toys. Or my face. Or to knock the soap off the sink in the bathroom while I change her diaper.

This week Gemma has been sleeping terribly. Few naps and when she does they are short unless someone (mama) is holding her. As you might guess, her disposition has been extra crabby and unpredictable.

The possibilities?

HANDS! Hands are amazing! All hands, all the time.

Rolling. Gemma is starting to try and roll from her back to front. She is arching and reaching while resting her back. I'd say she is on her way, but has quite a bit of abdominal strength to gain before she actually gets it, but she is sure thinking about it.

Beginning, very early army crawling. I'd estimate about a inch in several minutes. Earlier this week, I observed her pull her knees up and under her while propped up on her elbows. This prompted me to drop everything and sit my baby down for a talk. There is no rush! You don't have to grow up so fast! It is okay to just lay there! Stop it already!

Teeth? The teething process has probably begun. Although I'm not sure is the main cause. I suspect the other three were more at play.

Amelia

This morning, walking back from putting William on the bus, Amelia skipped ahead of me. Take my picture on the step today she sang. She ran and plopped herself down on the front step before I could reply.

My heart sank. Gemma needed a new diaper. The camera was inside. The to do list was long.

The look on my face must have said it all. My sweet girl reached into her pocket and said, "Here mom! You can use my phone."

Out her pocket came a red plastic cell phone.

I stood dumbfounded. Amelia hopped up on the front step and then instructed:

Open the phone and then push the sheep button first, then press the yellow button with the cow.

Then she said "cheese" and waited for me to take the picture.

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Amelia had her first day of preschool this week. With William starting almost 3 weeks ago, she has been impatiently waiting for her turn.

She was thrilled to finally wear her new shoes and be off to school like a big girl. I did take her picture on the front step (which i believe prompted this morning's request) but only with our big camera. So, those may be coming in the next five years or so. No promises.

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Amelia started ballet last week. I was pretty nervous about how it would go. If you hadn't picked up on this, Amelia can be....stubborn. If she decides she is not going to do something, she is not going to do it.

Luckily, this was not one of those things. She went, she danced and she had a wonderful time. No reservations, no shyness or refusing to participate as my imagination had predicted (and with a new set of ballet shoes, tights and leotard, I'm already invested).

Again, pictures are on the big camera.....for another day!

Sent from my iPhone

12 weeks old

Gemma is now 12 weeks old! Here she is wearing a 6-9 month outfit - shouldn't it look a little bigger on her? As a backdrop, we used my old holly hobby sheets from when I was growing up! Do they match? Is it my favorite? No. But it got the job done for today.

Gemma is so fun right now! She has discovered her hands this last week. She has been batting at things for weeks now, but suddenly she is grabbing at things. She is grabbing and capturing things in her hand. And she knows that she is doing it- and she is very proud!

We have laughing and cooing. We have smiles- those big, gummy grins that melt my heart. This week she also added in holding her own hand to the equation. So very sweet!

This has been a very long week. A very, very long week. Hopefully next weekend we'll have a little more time for our photo ops!

Issac

The remains of hurricane Isaac met up with us this morning at the bus stop. William insisted upon the umbrella because "he couldn't go to school wet!".

According to the forecast we are looking at a predicted forecast calls for rain in the neighborhood of 8 inches.

Reading to my sister

This boy sure does love his little sister! For now at least. When she starts getting into his stuff, he might feel differently!

After school one day this week, he decided Gemma needed some storytime while I tried to get dinner moving in the right direction (towards the table).