4 months old!

Hard to believe how quickly our girls are growing up but yesterday we went to the pediatricians office for well checks for both girls.  Joselynn turned 4 months old last week while we were on vacation in California so I was excited to see how much she has grown.  We were in shortly after she turned 3 months about her reflux and at that time she was just over 12 lbs.  I figured in a months time she'd put on some weight and thought she'd be at least 13 and some change.  Surprisingly she weighted in at 12 lbs 9 oz putting her in the 10-25% for weight.  I know she's long and at 25 1/4 inches she's in the 75% for height.  Since she was 9 oz bigger than Jules at birth, I figured she'd continue to be slightly bigger than Juliann was at the same age.  However, in looking back at Juliann's baby book, Josie is only 1 oz bigger than Jules was at 4 months-crazy!  She also got 4 shots and although she screamed a little, I think she did really well!  

I feel like Joselynn is doing new things all the time and I am certainly not as good about recording them as I was with Juliann.  Here are some of the things I've watched her do over the past month:

• She's babbling all the time and I'm pretty sure she's going to be a talker like her big sister.  I put her down for her morning nap yesterday and she just cooed and smiled for over an hour!  I don't know who she was talking to but she seemed happy!
• She's ADDICTED to her paci.  Jules found her fingers and could've cared less about the paci but Josie wants it all the time.  She screams like a banshee when it falls out.  I'm looking forward to the day she can put it back in herself!
• Joselynn has found her feet and plays with them constantly!  They haven't made it to her mouth yet but I don't think it will be long.
• She's smiling all the time and has graced us with about a dozen laughs.  The first time she let out a true belly laugh was when we were in California and it was absolutely beautiful!  I think I was more excited than she was and I almost cried because I think its one of the best sounds a mother can hear-there is truly nothing better than listening to your children laugh!  :)
• She's also started blowing raspberries-another neat sound to hear!
• Josie still hates tummy time but can push herself up to about 90% when on her tummy.  She usually lasts about 3 minutes and then gets irritated and is completely over it.
• She's rolled a few times from back to tummy but hasn't done it in about 2 weeks.  However, she usually sleeps on her left side so I figure it wont be too long before she flips over in the middle of the night like Jules did around the same age.
• She is a good sleeper like her sister.  She usually sleeps 10-12 hours a night and takes a few good naps during the day.  Naping isn't as smooth as it was in the beginning but I think all our traveling is to blame.  She hasn't had consistent naps in the last few weeks so hopefully when we're done with our vacations (1 more trip to go-hello beach!) she can get back on her regular schedule.
• Joselynn also has quite the personality.  While she's usually a very happy baby, if she's bored or tired, she wants to be held.  And if you don't comply with her demands, she will promptly let you know.  Jules cried but Joselynn screams.  It often sounds like she's being hurt when she's usually just pissed that you're not paying attention to her.  Hard to believe but she may just be more dramatic as a kid than Jules is now...heaven help us! 

Jules had her 2 1/2 year check up as well and is doing "fabulously" according to our doc.  He listened to her talk for a few minutes and said she has quite the vocabulary and he guessed by their short conversation that of at least a 3 year old if not older.  I figured as much since she NEVER stops talking!  :)  I was shocked to find out she's 29 pounds since our scale has said 27 for the past few months (she's a little vain-she likes to stand on the scale while brushing her teeth so she can see herself in the mirror) but she's smack on the average and in the 50th% so we couldn't be happier!  She's about 2 ft 11.5 inches and in the 25-50% for height. 

All in all both girls are doing great and the doctor said I should keep them both!  :)

Colorado and July 4th

We headed out to our timeshare in Colorado over the July 4th holiday.  We left on Friday afternoon to drive down to Newport News for our direct flight to Denver.  Flying with one little kid is a bit crazy.  Flying with two is downright absurd!  Luckily my parents were joining us for vacation and were flying with us out to Colorado.  We were appreciative for the extra hands that my parents provided because we looked like a traveling circus!

This is how we got monkey #1 around the airport!

We arrived in Denver late Friday evening and after picking up the car-a sweet minivan-we grabbed some food and headed to our hotel to crash.  We enjoyed walking around Denver on Saturday and even visited the Denver Art Museum.  That evening we went to Civic Center Park and listened to the Denver Symphony Orchestra play as fireworks exploded over the Denver City and County Building.

 Jules at the Denver Art Museum

Fireworks in Denver

We left Denver on Sunday and headed for the high country!  The weather in Breckenridge was a far cry from that of Denver (and the entire east coast).  It was about 65 and gorgeous!  It was almost too cold to wear shorts and a light jacket was a must.  Although we got to Breckenridge in time to watch fireworks, the weather wasn't the greatest so we hung out at Grand Timber that evening.  We also didn't think anything could beat the show we saw the previous evening!

While at Grand Timber we spent time relaxing by the pool and in the hot tubs, hiked,  rode the gondola up Copper Mountain, went to Vail, visited Buffalo Bills grave and saw a heard of bison. 

Jules and David riding the gondola

Jules hiking Copper Mountain with her new hat

Our family at Copper

Jules by the river in Breck

Vail

Bison

On Wednesday David, my parents and I went a little crazy and took ATVs up the Rocky Mountains!  We spent 2 hours driving 4 wheelers through narrow passes, streams, and up the side of a mountain.  It was an amazing experience and if I can figure out how to upload videos from the video camera I'll share!  I was super impressed with my parents and still can't believe my mom went with us-way to go Mom!  It was a bumpy ride but the views were beautiful and its definitely something we'd love to do again.  I think I'll get my own ATV next time because I enjoyed driving more than being a passenger!  :)

My parents on our ATV trip

David and I driving through a stream

Styling with our helmets about 10,200 ft above sea level, with a storm brewing

town of Leadville

My parents headed home Friday morning for a wedding so we flew home by ourselves on Sunday.  It was a little crazy getting around the airport with both girls but not impossible!  Luckily both girls were great on our flight home so we had a nice ending to our wonderful trip!  Hope everyone had a nice 4th with their family and friends!

More Visits

We've been busy visiting with family and friends this summer.  Uncle Ry Ry and Aunt Mere Mere came up to Richmond for a wedding and stayed here with us in June.  They got to see Jules and meet Joselynn for the first time. 

with Uncle Ry Ry

Aunt Mere Mere and the girls

Group shot

Jules being silly

A few days later my friend Stephanie came over for a play date with her daughter Emma Grace who was born 1 month and 1 day after Josie.

Then we headed down to Charlottesville to see Mimi and Grandma Sugars (the girls great-grandma).  We walked around and had a nice dinner.

Sugs and Josie

That's better!

Sugs and Jules

Shortly after our return from Colorado (post coming soon!) we headed down to Amherst for a playdate with some of my old friends and their kids.  I had a great time catching up with my friends Jamie and Carrie and the kids enjoyed playing, watching part of a movie, and the pool!

first grade friends!

With our kids

POOL!

no pack-n-play, no problem!  Getting creative for naptime! 

Smith Mountain Lake

I finished work the first week of June and two weeks later headed to my parents house at Smith Mountain Lake with the girls. We wanted to give daddy a little alone time and visit with Mimi and Pop-pop. Merrilee and Kendri also joined us for a girls week and we all enjoyed a little vacation.  The girls had a blast riding on the boat and playing in the lake, pools and on the beach at Mariners Landing.  Merrilee and I also got to relax (a little) in the sun!  Jules is fast becoming a water baby and we bought her water wings to use for the rest of the summer.  Hope everyone is enjoying their start to summer as much as we are! 

Kendri and Jules playing in the sand

the girls eating goldfish on Pop-pops boat

Josie on a beach for the first time

Laid back!

Jules practicing for the cover of Swimsuit Magazine!

Visits

Two of my college roomates have had a chance to stop by and visit Joselynn.  Britt came into town for her sisters wedding and met Joselynn in early May and Kel came down from Northern Virginia in June.  It was great to catch up with them both and have them meet the newest addition to our family.  Below are a few pictures from their visits.

Britt and the girls

happy baby!

Kel, Jules and Josie

Kel and I with the girls 

Me and the girls