A True Story

This story starts off as a mess...but has a happy ending!

Once upon a time there was

and

.

The BEAUTIFUL mommy queen didn't know what to do.  She took them as fast as she could to

and then they

and

And they all lived happily ever after!

The sequel is titled Family Game Night. 

It begins where bath time left off:

The princesses were victorious against an elephant

and a land of candy!

The End!

9 Month Stats and Pictures

This week we had Caitlin's 9 month appointment and 9 month pictures. 

First, the stats:

Weight 14 lbs 10 oz (Less than 3 %)
Height 28.25 inches (66%)

Head 16.2 inches (3%)

Last time she was 3% weight and 22% height...so she's dropped in her weight but really jumped in her height.  We are trying to get her to take more formula a day to help add to her weight.  She is also seeing an allergiest next week because of her intolerance to wheat (that's a whole 'nother post...but we'll wait till her dr app't to update that...at this time she is a gluten-free, dairy-free baby).

As for eating, her favorite food is avocado.  She LOVES them more than anything else...and even if she sees one at the store, she goes crazy!  She is eating Stage 2 baby food.  And we are beginning to find gluten-free alternatives to snacks (no to Cheerios, yes to Chex Mix, no to Puffs, yes to Pirates Booty).

Still not babbling yet...may start speech...but is getting close to walking.  Most babies talk when they are "stationary" but since she's on the move, she's not focusing on talking, she's focusing on walking.  Once she conquers walking, then she can talk.  We are doing sign language as we did with Abigail.  We are teaching her "more, all done, milk, please, thank you".  We are also working on clapping and waving.

There couldn't be a happier baby (now that we have no more wheat in her diet)!  She is happy all the time.

She loves her pacifier and no matter how much I take it away, she finds another one (or is given one by her partner-in-crime) but I figure we'll deal with that battle after a year!

We had her 9 month pics yestersday.  We decided to try Sears instead of JCPenney and I was so much happier there.  They spent much more time and were much more affordable.  We went right from Abigail's last ballet class so she was "done" and wasn't as cooperative, but Caitlin's pics really capture her personality...a happy, go-with-the-flow baby!

(how cute would this have been if Abigail smiled...Caitlin is in LOVE with her big sister)

(not a great picture, but I can already see how cute they are gonna be when they are older and bffs)

Happy 9 Months, Caitlin!!!!!

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner

Last night we headed with Grandma and Grandpa to the Flyers game.  It was "Disney Character" night, which meant for like 5 seconds, a scary Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy came out!  But we had a great night, with a great ending!  ;)

Eating Ice Cream....Look at those eyes! 

Enjoying a night out at the ballpark

With Grandma

With Grandpa

Learning how to use her new Strawberry Shortcake mitt

So, as we were packing up, I heard "Abigail Wennerstrom" announced in the stadium!  Then, the whole family heard it!  They had a trivia night and Abigail entered.  The question?  What is the name of Mickey Mouse's dog?  Abigail obviously knew the answer without us having to tell her...I mean, Mickey is her main man!  So we headed over to claim her "prize".  We were speculating tickets to a future Flyers game...a Flyers t-shirt....What did she win?????

An adult size Credit Union hat!  Interesting prize.....

Well, it gave us a good laugh!!!!

But then, on the walk to the car....

Daddy found a baseball that was it out of the stadium!!!!  Abigail LOVES the ball and tried to sleep with it!  So she was a happy camper!

It was a fun Wednesday night at the ball park!!!!!

It Happened AGAIN! Another Month!

My "baby" went and turned another month older without asking me if it was okay!

Miss Caitlin Bug is 9 months old today!  Do you know what that means???  Her next month b-day is a double-digit month..and we are almost at 1.  Oh my goodness!!!!!

But we are loving life with Caitlin Bug.  She is just the sweetest thing ever.  She has become more of a mommy cuddler...and I'm not complaining!  She also started this cute new game where she lays down and pretends to sleep...it's adorable.  

She is beginning to wave...I waved to her in the crib and she sort-of waved back.  It melted my heart.

When she's mad, there is no baby louder!  But when she's happy, there is no baby with a bigger smile!  I am in love with her baby cheeks and will be beyond sad when she loses them!!!!

Showing off her 2 teeth.  Her eyes are what I would call "hazel".  They aren't really blue any more but not brown!  I think they may take after Aunt Katie and change colors with clothing, weather, etc.

My favorite new trick...standing on this chair!  I also like to crawl up onto my big sister's bed!  Mommy and Daddy said I'm getting my first walking shoes this week...the time has come!

A cute picture taken by my brother-in-law's cousin (who I played basketball with in high school...small world)!

Happy 9 Months, Caitlin!!!!  Tomorrow we head to the doctor so we'll update the stats.  And then this week she gets her 9 months pictures taken.  So lots more to come!

Also, Baby Watch:  29 days till due date!  Can't wait to meet my niece!!!!!!

To Pacify or Not to Pacify

Ahhhh..the question I literally get daily:  "They are so cute, are you gonna go for a boy?" 

I usually have to go into a response that falls along the lines "No, we are really happy with our family of 4.  It's perfect for us!"

But my new response:

"We'll leave that on up to Costco!"  When they get a cart bigger...we can talk!  I mean, what would we do???  ;)  Look how nicely they fit in here...and still room for groceries and even a smoothie!

But in all serious, we aren't going for a boy and we aren't planning on having #3.  We love our family of 4 and think it's perfect!! 

In other news...ever wonder why they call a pacifier a pacifier???

We know now!  This girl can't be without it...and I know I will regret saying it later, but we LOVE it now!  We can get her quiet and calm any where...and after months and months and months of crying, we LOVE our pacifier and apologize to any child/parent we may have passed judgement on previously!

And last, but not least...what is more fun than a day at the splash park???

NOT A THING!!!

Flyers and Brookfield

Friday night we went to the Flyers game...and it was prime time for some cuddle pics with Abigail (Caitlin was sleeping most of the game).

On Saturday we were gonna take the kids downtown, but the weather was "iffy" so we headed to Brookfield Zoo.  We started at the Merry-Go-Rond.  Brookfield wisely placed it right by the entrance so it's all you hear about the whole trip to the zoo..and Abigail has been begging every visit to go...so she finally got her wish.  She was the most excited I have seen her in a long time!  And it was adorable watching with Caitlin cause everytime Abigail came around, Caitlin got the biggest smile and had to watch Abigail and Daddy until she couldn't see anymore, then she looked the other way to see them again!

 We did the dolphin show for the first time too!  Also, Abigail LOVES frogs so she wanted to look at them the whole time!  We also got "up close" with the polar bear!  Not a lot of pics cause we have "misplaced" our camera charger and are waiting for our new one to get here...and by "we" I really mean "me".!

Merry-Go-Round...it was a big moment for Abigail

Watching big sister on the merry-go-round

More exciting pics when our battery charger arrives!  ;)  And don't forget about our giveaway!

Itzy Bitzy is for your Itty Bitty!!!!!!

How cute are these??????

And these??????

And these??????

Since Miss Caitlin will soon be entering the walking phase of her life, I decided it was time to invest in some squeaky shoes for her.  We were first introduced to them by my little love Luca when he was learning to walk...they squeak with every step making walking fun!!!!  And these shoes are even better...when you have lost your patience and swear to yourself that if you hear one more squeak, you are going to lose it...then you can take the squeaker out and just have cute shoes!!!!

On my search for the perfect squeaky shoes, I came across an amazing website!  Itzy Bitzy is a site started by a mom who has a heart-warming story of a mother's love.  You can go to the site to read more about her and her two amazing daughters!  A portion of every sale goes to Children's Craniofacial Association.  This site is such a win-win site.  A great site with great products...while also raising awareness and money for sweet, beautiful children.  Oh, and did I mention affordable!!!!

So...here's your task!  Go to the Itzy Bitzy site and click on the bottom where it says "Refered From a Blog?  Enter to Win."  You will have a chance to win a product of your very own!

Then, come back here and in the comment section, leave me a comment letting me know that you did it!!!! 

Okay, here's the best part!!!!  If I can get 10 or more people to do this, I will give away a FREE pair of shoes!  That's right people, I said FREE!  We were going to buy a pair for Caitlin anyways, so if I get a buy 1, get 1 free coupon, I will get a pair of shoes for my winner...your choice!!!  I really love this site and want to get as many people as I can buying here so help raise money for the CCA!

Don't be shy people....go to the site and then let me know!!!!  Did I mention the shoes are free???  And they have accessories if your babies are too big for the shoes!!!!

Go check them out..and don't forget to let me know so you can be entered to win!!!!!

And while you are at it, enter my giveaway below.  Come on people, it's FREE stuff!!!!!!!  If I don't have your email address and you don't want to leave it on the comments, just email me seperately with it!  ;)

(As below, I get nothing for this endorsement...well, I do get a free pair of shoes but I'm giving them to one of my readers....this is just a mom with a cause loving on another mom with a cause!!!!)

***UPDATE:  To go to the "Refered from a Blog?  Enter to win" site, you have to link to Itzy Bitzy from the picture link on the side (the site's logo)...so link from the white box that says "Itzy Bitzy, Enter to Win" in the right column.