Happy Easter Weekend!

It's the most wonderful time of year in the Houston area...no, not Christmas!  It's Easter and it's made exceptionally wonderful by the fact it's perfect weather.  Not too hot and no mosquitos!  Oh if only it were like this all year long!  We made the most of it by being outside as much as possible!

Friday was wonderful because both Little Buddy and Daddy were off from school and work, respectively, so they got to hang out with Little Sweetie and I all day!  We went and played at the park and then went to the All Ages class at My Gym so both Little Buddy and Little Sweetie could join in on the fun!

     

     

Everybody is loving life at the park!

Little Buddy surveying his My Gym kingdom.

Saturday started off well!  We had the plan of dying Easter eggs, having the kiddos play with Daddy while Momma had her haircut and went to the grocery store, and then an early bath and bedtime so that we could get to the early Easter Mass the next morning.  Sadly, even the best laid plans can get messed up...

Easter egg dying went well...

     

But then a trip on the patio led Little buddy to get a gash above his lip.  Thankfully, he only required Derma-bond instead of stitches, but it ended up being a late night for the kids.  Our hope for making early church was vastly diminished.

But then, an Easter Miracle!  Daddy and I managed to get everyone up, out of the house, and to church in time for 7:30 AM Mass AND to actually get seats at the service, no less!  And then the kids actually BEHAVED!  Yes, they may have just been too tired to cause trouble, but we might start gong to 7:30 AM Mass regularly if that's the case!  Little Buddy and Little Sweetie definitely deserved the treats that the Easter Bunny left around the house while we were gone.

Happy boy after Church!  Still can't believe how good they were (Little Sweetie refused to participate in the pictures)!

     

     

They loved finding their baskets and eggs!

The new Peanuts movie was in Little Buddy's basket.  I'd say he was pleased!

Finished the day with our annual picnic and egg hunt with our Texas "family."  Love our awesome friends!

     

Little Sweetie was very into it this year!  She was excited to count her loot!

So minus the stitches, I'd consider it a fun and successful Easter weekend.  I will admit that being around our friend's older children can be difficult.  It's hard to see the gap between Little Buddy and his peers that, three years ago, wasn't there.  Last year, I had a panic attack and this year I felt pangs of sadness that he could no longer play with his friends the way he used to.  But then I saw how much fun he was having just being there, around his friends, playing and felt comforted to have the opportunity to be around so many people who love and understand our sweet boy.  What's more, Little Sweetie had a wonderful time!  Now that she is growing up, we have to be mindful of making sure that she has plenty of opportunities to socialize and interact with her peers, even if her brother cannot.  And I need to remind myself that for a Sanfilippo kid, Little Buddy is doing amazing and we are so proud of him!  Easter is a time of faith and hope, and we continue to have both of those!

Hope all of you had a blessed Easter, 

LSM

Little Sweetie's Momma

March 19

Another month goes by, brining us out of winter and into springtime!  I think we are both pretty excited about that!  More time together outside!  Although Little Sweetie may have a hard time once summer rolls around...she is not a fan of it being "too bright" and requires sunglasses as soon as she walks outside!

     

     

Thankfully, the right sunglasses always complete her AMAZING outfit choices!

Little Sweetie is still as active and fun as can be.  Every day is definitely an adventure.  Whether we  are out having lunch and running errands...

Cheesing at lunch!

Trying to convince me to just let her live in the tent display in Academy!

...or even just having a "lazy" day at home, her personality and creativity shine through!

     

     

Super Sweetie is on the case!

Sometimes I do get lucky and she wears herself out!

The rare stroller nap, which is funny because Big Brother napped in the stroller SO often.  I need to find one his pictures and look at them side by side.  Makes me nostalgic to see "ol' red" (my jogging stroller) being used for a snooze again!

But once she wakes up refreshed, it's back to keeping Momma on her toes.

I'm Batgirl.

(She's really into super heroes right now!)

This month also found us celebrating Daddy's birthday and preparing for Easter!

She's not to sure about this "birthdays that aren't hers" business, so she just "helps"the birthday person by opening the presents and blowing out the candles.  "I just helping!" as she says.

While she wasn't too sure about seeing the Easter Bunny up close and personal for pictures, she has no problem putting on a pair of bunny ears and a cotton tail and hopping around the house!  Also, I think Easter may be her favorite holiday:  it's all about finding things and putting them in baskets.  Our budding hoarder LOVES to reappropriate "treasures" from around the house and hide them in her purses, bags, and baskets!

Height and Weight 

She's up to 29 pounds and a hair over 34 inches.  However, don't tell her she's growing up because she'll vehemently disagree with you.  According to her, she's still the baby and always will be.

     

I'm not a big girl, I a baby!  I'll hang out in the bouncer that I refuse to let Momma and Daddy get rid of in order to prove it!

Personality

Little Sweetie is still our little jokester this month!  She loves telling "knock-knock" jokes, laughing hysterically, and then telling us that she is just "so silly!" 

Developmental Milestones

Definitely seeing a lot of gains in her fine motor development!  We've noticed her becoming very detail oriented and precise, far more than I would have thought a 2.5 year old capable of.  She has been a great helper in the garden and in the kitchen.  And I mean an actual helper, not just watching or being guided.  She's really getting more and more independent with her actions and very good at following directions (when it's something that she wants to do).

Starting some seedlings.  Look at those delicate hands!

     

     

Our little green thumb was so excited to plant the garden!  Excited to use it teach her not just about food, but about science as well!

     

     

Helping Daddy peel garlic and blend up the greens for sauce for dinner!

I mean, really, the concentration during Play-Doh time and Family Game Night is serious!

Fun Tidbits

I mentioned last month about the Baby Burrito at bed time, so I wanted to add a picture of it! 

Baby Burrito!

I've also been catching her planking and climbing more around the house.  Both good, because I love that she's getting adventurous, and bad because I've got to keep an eye on my independent girl!  But she's reminding me that I need to get back into my workouts!

Night all, 

LSM

Little Sweetie's Momma