Matching Suits

For my entire life, I found it so annoying when other people dressed their children alike.  Seriously, not a fan.

YET, we were in a store recently and Sophie found her exact bathing suit in Clara's size. Both girls screamed and begged and jumped up and down and went CRAZY until I agreed to buy it.

I am so glad I did.

When Alain and I saw the girls sitting by the pool in their matching suits, our hearts completely melted. Thank goodness Alain was so quick and captured this moment.

When I'm 90 years old (should I be so lucky!), I will be sitting in the retirement home still thinking about when my two girls were little and wore the matching green and white striped bathing suits.

PS ~ I've been guilty of this before!

Capturing Motherhood in a Photo

Sophie & Oopsie

I always heard that age five is a BIG year developmentally.  I never quite knew what to make of that statement and often questioned the truth of it.  Now I am experiencing that it is indeed true and I am watching it unfold daily.  While a five year old seeks more independence, at the same time they still want cuddles and attention and praise.  They start to develop deeper relationships with friends and family members.  They really begin to grasp more complex concepts and feelings, etc. and, as I know from my own life, start to have memories which can last their entire lives.  In Sophie's case, this is all true.  She can really articulate her feelings well. She tends to listen a bit better than before but she still has tantrums and emotional breakdowns.  In a few weeks she'll start school and spend more time away from home than maybe ever before. She'll make new friends and establish a foundation for a life outside of our home and family.  It's a lot for a mother to take in. It went by so quickly.

The four of us went out one night last week for a quick burrito.  Sophie asked to sit at a chair in the window by herself.  Not entirely by herself though....Oopsie joined her.  She got a booster seat for him and everything. Alain, Clara and I sat at a proper table just a few feet away yet I couldn't tear my eyes away from my baby girl sitting at the window with her animal friend.  So big yet still so small.

I fought back the tears in the restaurant but they flow freely now.

I am so proud of her and I am madly in love with who she is becoming!

PS ~

As is very common in Sophie's life these days, Lil' Sis had to interrupt to see exactly what she was missing out on.....I just had to include a photo of that!

PPS ~

Nonno Carlo, thank you for that most adorable outfit for Clara. It's perfect!

Little Clara is ONE!!!!

It was one year ago today that I had the pleasure of giving birth to this amazing little creature.  I find it hard to believe that she is already one year old.  It was surely the longest year of my life filled with many, many challenges.  But, somehow, it also seems like the happiest year of my life, a year filled with much peace (amidst the chaos).  Clara Luhu, you are a dream come true.......a dream filled with sunshine and laughter, smiles and green grass, baby toes and sweet lullabies.  To say that you completed our family would be a gross understatement.....you filled it up and made it whole.  I am so grateful to have you in my life!  Happy Birthday, sweet baby girl.....

My Green Girls and a Wedding

My cousin's wedding was on Saturday and we attended as an entire family.  A first for us.  Clara makes going anywhere rather difficult.  Alain ended up standing  in the church lobby for the entire service and he also left the reception early to take Clara home.  The D.J. at the reception was not a friend of ours after Clara knocked over and broke his fan.  Like I said.  Having said that, we still had a very nice time.  I bought matching dresses for the girls after Sophie suggested that she might like for Clara to have a dress just like hers.  I never thought I was a fan of matching siblings.  I get it now.  These are the only decent shots I got while we were hanging out outside after the service.

My favorite part of the entire day was Sophie's dancing at the reception. She started dancing right when we arrived.....at least a full hour or two before anyone else started dancing.  Watching her just tickles my soul.  And she continued to dance until I dragged her out of there at around 10:00 PM.  That girl is a dancing fool. I tried to get some action shots!

There were actually some really nice party details that I liked at the reception and I took a few photos to remember them by.  I may just use them myself sometime....

I'm so happy for my cousin and thrilled that we were able to attend his wedding.  We're back home now after a week away and trying to settle back into a routine....

The New Toy

Sophie was so thrilled to get a new, life-sized doll this past weekend. She immediately put her in the doll stroller and started to walk her around.....

Uh, wait a moment, that doll looks a LOT like Clara.

Of course, it IS Clara. Except that she's cuter than any doll I've ever seen.

My two girls had such a fun time playing together. Sophie was ecsatic when I told her she could put Clara in the stroller (with many rules, of course!) and Clara smiled nonstop the entire time that Sophie strolled her around.

A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!!!

A New Sister's Artwork

Sophie's artwork has taken on a new theme the last three days. Here are her drawings that she brought home from school this week. Each day I asked, "Who are these two people that you drew?", to which she would reply, "That's me and the baby sister". So precious!

Sophie had a tough time transitioning for the first week or so but she's doing really well now. She's obviously excited and very proud still. This drawing even includes Hubbell, our precious aging dog. And no, that's not a fried egg.....it's a big flower.

In case you're wondering, that is a belly button drawn on "the baby sister" above.

Dad and I found these drawings too heartwarming not to share! And, honestly, children's drawings always make me so, so happy.....