First Smile

Levi started smiling today. No, it wasn't gas.....it's what they call a 'social smile'. We're looking forward to more smiles from our sweet boy.

Naptime

Here is Tate and Levi. One is taking a nap as told and the other isn't listening. Can you tell which is which?

The Photo shoot

"I'm too sexy for my diaper"

Mommy wanted to get some sweet pictures of the 3 of us together so Miss Emily said she would take some at Mayfield Park. It's a great park here in Austin complete with beautiful koi ponds and peacocks. Since mommy has her hands full with 3 of us now, she laid out all of the clothes the night before and asked daddy to get us dressed that morning while she took a shower and got ready. We made it to the park on time and all was great. Right? Well, yes until Miss Emily started laughing because Tate was twirling in her 'beautiful dress' and we realized daddy forgot to put panties on her. Oops! I informed mommy that he forgot my undies, too. Minor detail I suppose. We were hot and tired and did not want to cooperate but here are some of the pictures from our day in the park. Thank you Miss Emily!

Princess Tate

Miss Emily took some pictures of Princess Tate while we were at the park.

May the Force be with you!

Nico turned 5 and he had the best Star Wars birthday party ever! It was at a park here in Austin and when we each showed up, we had to check into 'Jedi Training Camp' where we each received our training gear consisting of a jedi robe, belt and light saber. Obi-Wan was there to teach and guide us in our quest to save the galaxy. We had to fight off storm troopers and each had to battle Darth Vadar! We even rescued Princess Leia before battling the Death Star. It's hard work saving the galaxy so we re-energized with a donut birthday cake! I told mommy I want a birthday party just like this...every year.

Princess Girlfriends

Mr. Jeff and Ms. Lesley are getting married this weekend and since daddy and Mr. Carey are in the wedding, that means Eden is in town! Mommy and Ms. Tristan had to go to a bridal party this evening and they left the daddies...and Mr. Jeff...in charge of all 4 of us (yes, baby Levi too). Mommy was gone for only 3 hours and the daddies did great with the 3 older ones, but had quite a time with the new baby. From the looks on their faces when mommy got home, she doesn't think Mr. Jeff will EVER have kids after that experience. Sorry Ms. Lesley! It didn't phase us one bit. I continued to play with my trains and the girls enjoyed princess dress up time.

Bath time!

Don't you just want to eat me up!?

Vacation Bible School

This year in vacation bible school, we're visiting Nazareth where Jesus grew up. Each day we learn about Jesus as a young boy and visit markets, make projects and even visit real animals that lived during Jesus's time. One of my favorite things is making mommy and daddy homemade soap and oils each day. On the second day of vacation bible school, we talked about God-sightings and where we might see God in our daily lives. I was actually quoted on the email bulletin that went out to all of the parents. I said, "I see God in my baby brother".

Tea for Two

Victoria loves tea time and princesses just about as much as I do - so it's always fun to have her over for a little tea.

One month old!

Precious Levi Love -
All I can say is time flies. How is it possible that you're already a month old? It's hard for me to think that you weren't even due until June 2nd and would have been about 10 days old at this point. You are a perfect fit into our family and we love you more than words can say.

You're a typical newborn in that you're up every 1 1/2 and 2 hours each night. It makes for a tired mommy but you're so darn cute that I don't really mind. You're gaining weight nicely and actually look like a little butterball. Well, I guess you're now looking like Tripp did when he was first born. You're holding your head up pretty well and you get mad if you're not able to look around. You're a good eater and great burper. No messing around for you! Your brother and sister LOVE you and smother you daily. It annoys you but trust me, someday soon you will love the attention. Overall, you're pretty laid back - all the noise and hustle and bustle doesn't really phase you much. Your eyes are still a little crossed and still blue. I'd love for them to stay that way but if Tripp and Tate's eyes are any indication, they won't. I can wish, can't I? You still have a little bit of yellow tint to your skin and eyes, but your pediatrician said it's called 'Breast milk jaundice' and will disappear on it's own. You're a healthy, beautiful baby boy and I'm going to apologize now for kissing on you and loving you too too much. It's just how it's going to be. I'm in love!

Much love,
Your mommy

Tate's New Doll

The Little Ballerina

I'm always telling mommy and daddy that I'm a 'beautiful princess' but today, I was a 'beautiful ballerina' in my first ballet class. I loved it! We did a little tap, a little ballet and towards the end of class we each got wands (gasp!) and danced with the lights off under the twinkling lights. I'm in heaven and can't wait to come back each week.

Big Sister Love

Good-bye

Grammy, Gramps and Aunt Courtney left today. Mommy is sad and I am too. We had a wonderful time and we really wish they lived closer to us. Before they left, we thought it would be fun to do one last activity together. Nothing like a little old school roller skating to make the sadness go away! Tate was a natural but it took a little more time for me. After skating, Gramps treated us to ice cream and then it was Bon Voyage!

Bodies, Brains and Bones

This week, I'm in a camp at the Austin Children's Museum called 'Bodies, Brains and Bones'. Just check out some of the activities we get to do this week. Can you see why I'm super excited?

Monday: Explore your senses - Sight and Hearing
Activities: Play frog orchestra, blind obstacle course through the museum, shaving cream exploration, create museum sounds, paint chip scavenger hunt, echolocation bat game, matching sounds game, discover what a dog sees

Tuesday: Explore your senses - Taste, Touch and Smell
Activities: Match your scent game, taste test sweet, salty, bitter and sour things, create a texture painting, feel and find game, make texture rubbings, create a tissue paper flower and graph which chocolate and apples we like best

Wednesday: Hands and Feet
Activities: Create fingerprint animals, paint without using hands, make bat wings then fly around the museum to find insects, investigate dinosaur footprints, museum feet measurements, play twister, create a hand puppet, build with legos while wearing oven mitts, play animal footprint bingo

Thursday: What's inside?
Activities: Examine x-rays, play operation, put together a skeleton puzzle, make bones with model magic, trace your body, dress and pretend, graph our class features and play some brain games

Friday: Get Moving!
Activities: Complete an obstacle course, go on a scavenger hunt in the museum, make a healthy snack, human vs animal measurement comparisons, play Simon says, play twister and make shakers

Sweet Levi

Houston Visit

Cousin Jenny and Aunt Courtney are both ice hockey players

Grammy and Gramps wanted to go visit family and friends in Houston for the weekend.......and we got to go, too! We packed up the car and left mommy, daddy and Levi in Austin alone for the whole weekend. When we got to Houston, Aunt Judy had lots of fun things planned for us including ice skating, bounce house/water slide fun, water balloon fights and even an outdoor movie! Thanks for a great weekend and we can't wait to see you all again soon.

Gramps is here!

Grammy and Aunt Courtney have been here for a little while but today, Gramps arrived. We're so excited to have him here!

Mommy's Check up

Because of mommy's surgery, she has been limited and hasn't been able to do simple things like drive or even go up the stairs. I've been pretty sad because every night when I go to bed, I tell mommy to make sure to come up and give me hugs and kisses before she goes to bed. She hasn't been able to do that and I actually was crying with Grammy about it. Today, mommy had a check up and before she got out of the car, I told her to make sure to ask the doctor if she could go up the stairs and drive. She asked and the doctor said YES! You should have seen my face when she told me the news. Elated!