Earlier Summer Stuff

Here are some things from summer that I should have posted a long time ago but it got crazy and I was exhausted so it never got done. I am going to try and catch up in the next week or so but we will see how that goes.

Our new house at night. Sorry for the dark picture but its the only one I got before I left. More pics to come I'm sure!

New van. We love it! I never knew I would say that but it's true. We love it.

The living room mural we decided to ditch. So glad we did but a photo just for memories. The room seems much bigger and not so busy now with a solid color wall.

Enjoying all the free space.

Running around in the new empty house.

Summer time ice cream. Yum yum.

Working on our sharing skills. Livy will share she just always wants to be the one holding!

Some painting. We started doing a "craft time" a few days a week and they love it!! Target $1 section supplies lots of them and other times we cut and glue. They are loving using glue sticks! I need to get a picture of some of their other stuff before I throw it all out. They love having things to hang on the fridge.

Very focused on her seal.

Love that face!

They carried these seals around with them for a week everywhere they went.

Rachel's new obsession this summer is necklaces or bracelets. We made them one day for craft and she wears all of them because Livy is not too interested in this stuff. But Rachel will wear ten pounds of beads, or beans as she calls them, all day long and anywhere we go! She has to hold her arm up all day too so the bracelets don't fall off.

Cassie's Wedding

This weekend was Cassie's wedding. Everything went perfectly and Cassie looked absolutely beautiful! It was so great to be there and I am so glad that I went and got to share it with her.

Bridal shower Friday night was very fun!

Only close up of Cass I had on my camera. I didn't use it much which I am bummed about now.

The bride and some of the bridesmaids.

The happy couple and some family! Congrats Cass and Chris!! We love you!!

It was great to be there but I am glad to be home and get to bed at a normal time. We had lots of fun staying up late together! Eric stayed home with the girls so it was a great vacation! Thanks Eric! I love you and wish you had gotten to come with me!

Pictures!

Hi everyone. This is Jessi's sister-in-law, Erin. I had a lot of pictures of the girls on my camera from when they came to NY and also Richie and I got to come back with Jess and the girls to Texas to help them get settled into their new home. I'll let Jess fill you in on the trip and the move later, but for now, here are some pictures to enjoy.....

Bathtime

Adventureland

Waving to Pop pop!

Livy getting silly at the restaurant.

Making playdoh.

Fun in the pool with daddy.

Motorboat

Sing a long

All New

Sorry for the lack of pictures but I am leaving for NY in an hour so I will have to post them later. But as for our new news, we love the minivan, love the new house and will be excited to move in when we get back from NY but the best is.......we are having a BOY!! We are really excited and a little intimidated because I don't know what to do with a boy but I am sure that will pass. Now we are keeping our fingers crossed for Kevin and April and hoping they get their boy too! Also hoping I can sleep again since I couldn't sleep this week for some reason, which is totally strange for me. Maybe just too much going on but I am so excited to get to NY and relax and have fun! See some of you there!

2 Weeks

We have a busy and exciting two weeks ahead of us.

1. New car by the 25th

2. Close on our new house on the 30th

3. Find out the sex of baby #3 on the 31st

4. Leave for NY for three weeks on the 1st

I still have to pack the rest of the house and torture Rachel every day with swim lessons! Luckily we have all of August to get moved into the new house. We have rented our house out and they move in here September 1st so it works out great that we have so long to move, considering I will be gone for most of August.

Another update, both girls are now in semi-big girl beds. It is just the crib with the front side removed to become a toddler bed but it's a big change. They are doing better than expected in them and it is so nice not to have to lift them in and out any more. If anyone has one of these convertible cribs and doesn't want to spend the $80 on the rail that is made for the crib to turn it into the toddler bed (and then is not use able when making it into a regular bed) here is a tip. I read online to get a pool noodle or roll up a blanket and put it under the sheet along the edge of the bed. It us just a little barrier and works great. We did that and it has worked great. Hope it can save someone a little hassle!

These pictures are of the girls in my old dresses. My mom had given them to me when they were born and I forgot I had them in the closet. I was packing stuff the other day and found them in perfect timing while they still fit. Not too bad for 25 year old dresses! Thanks mom!

It's Been a While

They have me on the up and downs of motherhood again. Although it seems to change by the hour not the week. Maybe it is just my hormones. One minute I am putting them in the corner and so frustrated, the next almost crying because they say or do the funniest/sweetest thing. What a ride. It is wonderful though. Their latest thing is saying "no" to everything, and with an attitude. So Eric had had enough of it and started putting them in the corner every time and raising his voice enough to make them take him serious. So I have been trying to tell them, we don't say no, we say yes sir or yes ma'am. Anyway, they are doing a little better. Rachel is using the yes sir, but that is it. It is seriously funny and I just laugh every time. Any time I ask her something she says, yes sir. She doesn't get that that is for a man, but I will take what I can get!

Smiles from the girls. I try very hard to get a picture of them together that they are both smiling but it doesn't seem to work out. Here are some pictures from the backyard lately just swimming and stuff.

I am sure both girls will be a big help when the baby comes but Rachel is way into babies and taking care of them. Lately she has been doing different stuff with her babies, teaching them how to throw a ball, holding their hands and helping them walk, etc. It is so fun to watch them learn more and grow up.

See what I mean, best one I got with them together.

Livy's new face when I ask her for a smile.

Rachel was putting the hose on Livy and saying "it's just like a bath Niny, you'll like it." They entertain me all day with the things they say. I love how they care for each other and are almost all the times so sweet to each other and Pebbles. Always petting her and asking if she is OK or telling her she is a good girl (or boy)!

4th of July weekend Eric, Jeff, and I went to South Padre Island. They were going on a scuba diving trip and I was just there for the vacation. This is a picture from right before we left. Brenda and Alan watched them for us which was wonderful. You don't feel too worried about them when Grandma is in charge! Thank you so much for watching them, especially all that you had to do! On Sunday just as we were getting ready to head back (six hour drive) we got a call that Rachel had been throwing up all day so far. Of course I was extremely anxious to get home to her and I felt terrible that Brenda and Alan had to deal with throw up all day. But everyone survived. Thanks guys! I had a great time even though I was by myself all day and ate dinner with the guys. I read a lot and went to the beach. What else could I ask for? I guess I should have taken some pictures. Oops!

I know there is a lot of water pictures here but we haven't been swimming or outside even that much because it is just too hot. On this day Rachel was standing at the door after 10 minutes telling me it was too hot outside and she wanted to come in.

Some cooling off in our blow up pool with some popsicles or as Livy says "pock-a-syls".

Singing together and sliding. They are getting more into singing now. They love Raffi (kid song singer). My brother Danny listens to it a lot so they have heard it at my parents house each time. They love his songs. I tried another kids CD and they wouldn't have it. They say they don't like this song. When Eric puts his music on they say the same thing "I don't like this song, I want the monkey song."

They have lots of fun together and I love seeing that. It is so cute to watch them play together and really nice for me that they do. Except I have to say it does kind of hurt my feelings when they kick me out or tell me to go back down stairs. They love playing in their rooms and upstairs now. We took the front of Livy's crib off and made it into a toddler bed so they climb in and out and pile all their stuffed animals in there. They were doing it with the crib too, just climbing in and out so now at least I don't have to worry about them falling. She has adjusted without any problem so far. Rachel doesn't want hers like that just yet so we'll wait a little bit. She is lighter so it is easier to lift her in and out, only a few pounds but it seems to make a big difference.

One of their new favorite things to do is shower. Usually they want a bath and shower but at least they are clean!

15 weeks

People have been asking how much they girls understand about me having a baby. Not much. They know you can't hit mommy's belly because there is a baby in there. And sometimes they try and look down my shirt to see it. The other day we were getting their pajamas on and we dress them on our bed which is kind of high and perfect height that it kicks us in the stomach if they are excited or whatever. So Rachel kicked Eric in stomach and we said, no kicking Rachel, immediately Livy chimes in with "don't kick daddy, he has a baby in his belly." And Eric doesn't look like he does so I guess they think everyone has one in there!

17 weeks. I seriously look a lot fatter in this picture too. Next time I will be more aware of what I am wearing in the picture! It's definitely growing but this picture is up close compared to the other so take that into consideration too. I have an appointment this week but I won't find out the sex of the baby until I get back from NY in the end of August (1st-19th yea!). I know it stinks but what can you do!