Our Day with Friends

Last week, we went to the Dupage Children's Museum with my friend Jodie and her daughter, Addison.  I took all of 1 picture, but Jodie got some great ones here!  Abigail loves to talk about Addison...and Addison is going to be a big sister very, very soon and she loves to tell me about Addison's new baby brother!!!  Only bummer is a didn't get a picture of Jodie and her cute baby belly...next time, Jods!!!  Here are some cute pics of the girls:

It was a great day...thanks for joining us Skinner Family..and thanks for the great pictures! 

Where to even begin????

I have so much to catch everyone up on.

Let's start with Miss Caitlin Elizabeth:

Yesterday, she laughed!!!!!!!  It was a wonderful moment.  She's 4 1/2 months old..and I knew it would come soon because she's at the stage now where she gives the biggest smile when she sees me!  I was playing playing with her and rubbing her pacifier on her chin, and everytime I did, she giggled.  It was such a great moment!!!

Caitlin has the cutest baby cheeks!!!  We were expecting her to weigh a lot, but at 4 months old, she only weighed 10lbs 13 oz.  So she gained about 2 lbs in 2 months.  She was also 24 inches long and her head circumference was 15 inches.  Basically, she's in the 0-5% for weight and head measurement, and in the 40% for height.  She's not going to be as tall as Abigail, but definitely a good, average height!

We tried rice cereal, but it was too early!!!!!!  We'll try again next month!

Abigail LOVES to play with Caitlin.  Often, she will try to change her diaper if I'm not watching (we are working on that)...but it's so cute to watch them together!!!!!  I can't wait till Caitlin can play back, but Caitlin always has the biggest smile when she's watching her big sister!!!!

This weekend, we took the girls to Monkey Joes to get out some energy!  Caitlin still LOVES her sling...I am so excited to get out the Jeep Carrier (the one that you carry her on the front) when her head is strong enough!  Until then, I'll take advantage of my cuddles!!!!

Abigail continues to be fearless in the jump houses.  There were BIG kids everywhere, and she just kept up with them!!!!

On Saturday night, my parents came over for Sushi!!!!  While I didn't take any pictures of the group (I'm getting worse instead of better with pictures) I did take a picture of the damage Abigail did to the Edamame (all those are empty below).  She at the ENTIRE order before anyone got 1.  That girl loves her veggies!!!!

We ended our weekend with a mean game of Hi-Ho-Cherry-O!  We LOVE family game night!!!

Last week, Abigail wore braids for the first time!!!!!  She looked so old!

This picture actually has 2 firsts.  Abigail's 1st braids and Caitlin's 1st time wearing jeans!!!!

And to end the post...a few pictures from St. Patrick's Day!  I love catching the candid shots when the girls are watching each other!

I still need to post some adorable pictures I got from our trip to the Dupage Museum with Miss Jodie and Addison last week!  And our trip to the park (time for the annual swing comparision pictures).  This post is full so that will be another week.  Also, Abigail is starting ballet again in a few weeks, and I did it!  I got her a ballet outfit and ballet slippers.  Since she's older, I thought it would be okay (if you remember when she was like 1 years old and the only baby in the class without a ballet outfit...now she'll be in the same class, but she'll be the oldest one so I thought she was ready). 

Have a great week...Check back soon for more pics!

March for Babies

I have so much to report on the girls..and so many pictures to post...but not today because today is our kickoff to March for Babies!

This will be our 2nd year walking in the March for Babies!  We would LOVE for our family and friends to come and walk with us in honor of Abigail, Caitlin, and all the babies who had to fight too hard too soon!  We know that March of Dimes research made it possible for Abigail to fight for her life...and for Caitlin to not have to fight as hard!

Just as last year, this is our tribute to the staff at Central Dupage Hospital who are angels to us!  They spend their days saving babies...

We know that not all babies are able to fight for their lives.  We are so grateful that someone is there for them!

We are NOT asking for donations!  Instead, we are inviting everyone who is available to join us for what we hope is a sunny, beautiful day celebrating babies!  We just want to raise awareness to the amazing people who were there for us long before we ever knew we'd need them!

There is more information on the side about the walk.  Please consider joining the walk in honor of babies who have to fight too hard too soon!!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I accidently posted the pics on http://www.mylifewith2tugirls.blogspot.com/  Running to work so will fix it tonight.  Go check out our little leprechauns on that site!  Happy St Patty's Day!

Shedd with Cousins

This weekend, my cousin (2nd...but we are closer like 1st) Jessica, her husband Jake, and their daughters Gabriella and Kendall came down from Wisconsin for the weekend.  We had a great time.  It was the first time the girls had met each other..and they really loved spending time with each other.   Abigail and Gabby (Yep..Abbi and Gabby) held hands everywhere they went...it was adorable!

We met them at the Shedd.  And I did a TERRIBLE job of taking pictures.  We saw the whole Shedd, and I think I took 4 pictures.  Such a bummer....

Abigail pretending to be a penguin in the Polar Play

A cute penguin and her daddy

Exploiring some coral

After Shedd, we were planning to go to American Girl Store (the girls have twin American Girl Bitty Babies and we were going to get them each an outfit) but the weather was a bummer...and it was the St Patty's Day parade, so it was insane.  So instead we headed to Navy Pier and enjoyed running around there, and some Garrett's popcorn and even a "treat" for the adults!

Gabby and Abbi

Enjoying the sites of the gardens at Navy Pier...so cute!

After Navy Pier, the 4 girls were close to meltdown time, so we headed back to our house for some more "treats" for the mommies and daddies...and some deep dish pizza!

Kendall, Gabby, and Abigial watching a movie

Miss Caitlin getting some quality Gloworm Time

It was so wonderful to spend time with family...and the highlight of the night had to be when I pulled out a video of Jess and I doing a dance to New Kids when we were like 12.  It was awesome and embarrassing all rolled into one!!!  We are looking forward to our visit up to Wisconsin for a Brewer's game next!!!!  And I have a feeling Rob may be getting in on the next Wisconsin hunting season!  ;)

4 Months Old

Caitlin turned 4 months this week.  4 months already!!!!  4 months???  I really can't get over the fact that we are 1/3 of the way to her turning 1.  Dear Time...SLOW DOWN!!!!  Although there is one really great thing about turning 4 months.  Supposedly colic begins to disappear around 4 months.  Any day now would be great!

Caitlin continues to challenge us with her colic, and continues to awe us with her...well, with her!  She's such a beautiful baby...her eyes just pull you in.  She has all the normal baby rolls, and we just love them!  She is a much more serious baby...but every once in a while she'll give you a big ole smile, and it just melts our hearts.  We are still waiting for her 1st laugh, apparently we aren't very funny!  She has rolled over 3 times, but I still consider them a fluke because I haven't seen them yet. But she's getting very close to rolling from her back to her front!  And I've had the video camera out many times getting ready to capture it. 

Speaking of capturing it, she is not a fan of getting her pictures taken.  Last week we had professional pictures taken, and it was the 1st time I didn't buy any because she refused to look happy.  Anytime she sees the camera, she stops smiling.  So it's almost impossible to take a picture that captures her personality.  When reading other blogs, I used to think "That's the best picture you could get?"...well, for me, the answer really is "Yep".



She's still drinking soy formula...and I have a feeling will be till she's 1.  She has a lot more head control..we are know working on back control so she can sit up.  Still early, I know.  She babbles when she's excited...and cries when she's mad.  She has about a 1 second warning when she's hungry...so we always have a bottle ready.  She sleeps through the night, but is a terrible napper.  We are lucky if she'll take 2 15-minute naps.  However, about every 3rd or 4th day, she's just be so exhausted and sleep through the day.  Usually that's the day the girls go do an in-home daycare at Ms Kelly's house, so that's good for everyone!  She's just moving up to 3-6 month clothing...and is about to try size 2 diapers tomorrow.

She's our little love bug, and we love her! Happy 4 month birthday, Caitlin Elizabeth!

Kidstown

Last week, I took the girls to Kidstown in Wheaton.  It is such a great place for imaginative play...they have all these different themed rooms for kids to pretend in.  Some not seen below include a fire station, a police station, a kitchen, and a construction room.  And every room was a telephone in it...so Abigail could run from room to room calling people...Heaven to her!  It was very clean and organzied, and we really enjoyed our day here.  Here are some pics of our day (mostly of Abigail because I had Caitlin in my arms the whole time).

In the VET room...a huge fish tank

"Take a picture for Papa" (Papa has a red truck that she calls a fire truck)

(Abigail is in this "cheese" phase...when we try to take a picture, she says "Cheese" and makes this face.)

In the Disco room...Abigail's favorite room to run around and chase the lights till she falls.

This was a pink bow party in the Princess room...I went to find her and she was at a tea party with 2 other girls..all 3 had pink bows in!

On the Stage...there was a tv where she could watch herself..and she did that alot!

They had an infant area too...Miss Caitlin had a great time in there (despite not being able to get a picture of her smiling)...she was testing out the Bumbo Chair.  We didn't get one for Abigail because her Physical Therapist was against it, but we have to go get one for Caitlin this week because she does NOT like her swing, but she needs to sit up more!

A random picture from this weekend. We were supposed to go to the Peggy Notebart Museum to see the butterflies, but something came up and plans changed.  So we were heading to the Children's Museum, but we decided to take a detour and go get Rob a new suit...which ended up taking a lot longer than planned, so to make up for not going to any of the museums, we stopped for milk shakes!  She was one happy girl...not to mention the store where we were at had a tv to monitor people, so she would watch herself on tv there too!!!!  :)

Today is a very special day...it's Caitlin's 4 month bday!!!!  We are going to have a photo shoot (we went and had professional pictures taken, but that didn't go so well) and I'll post pics later!!!!