5 months

Libby is already 5 months old!  The time is just flying by!  While I'm trying not to look ahead too much because I want to soak in the moments in the present...I am looking forward to her turnign 6 months because by the time she turns 6 months, I'm done teaching for the summer!  3 whole months home with the kids....I can not wait!  I love teaching, but know I will appreciate my summers even more!!!!

 

Libby continues to be the happiest baby I know!  Of course she has her moments, as every baby does, but I feel so lucky that she just such a happy, go-with-the-flow, normal baby!  Our doctor visits are pretty boring...which is a welcomed change!

 

At Libby's 4 month appointment (which was more like 4 1/2), Libby weighed 12lbs 6 oz, which is 13%.  Her height was 24.5 inches, which is 44%.  So she is not going to be nearly as tall as Abigail, or even Caitlin at this point since Caitlin is usually more like 50% (obviously Abigail is always like 99%).  I was surprised by her weight..she seems like a big baby to me, but apparently she's really not.

 

The doctor was always laughing at how much more relaxed our doctor visits are with Libby.  We've been with the girls' pediatrician since Abigail was born, so she's been through it all with us.  She laughed when I let Libby get 3 vaccines.  I'm usually the annoying mom who only lets my kid gets 1 vaccine at a time, and then we have to keep going back every month.  But due to time with me working, I went wild and crazy and let them do 3.  However, I'm not gonna lie...it drove me crazy for like a week after so I don't see myself doing that again....but hey, Libby just makes me relaxed!  :)

 

Libby is rolling over from back to tummy, but is stuck once she gets to her tummy..which is making for a lot more "forced" tummy time than before. 

 

She is starting to put everything in her mouth.  She is also beginning to play with things hanging in front of her in her carseat.

 

She continues to make the cutest little babbling sounds, it really is my favorite part!

 

And lately, she's discovered her tongue.  She is constantly doing her best Michael Jordan impression.  She can curl her tongue, which Rob can do and it's hereditary.  The other girls and I can't...

 

She still feed exclusively by me...each day now feels like a little payday!  She is getting up 2-4 times a night...but goes back to bed after she eats!

 

She thinks Abigail is the funniest person...EVER!  Even when Abigail brushes her teeth, Libby laughs so hard!  They have a special bond!

 

Happy 5 Months, Libby Frances!!!!

 

 

Also, here are some fun pictures from this week!

 

Last Saturday, Rob and I did something we don't do very often...we had a baby sitter!  We went to Toby Keith's  to celebrate my sister Kate's 30th bday!  It was a great night.  Happy birthday, Kate!!!!

 

Random picture...I caught the girls watching a show on the Ipad, and Caitlin had her arm around Abigail the whole time!

 

And Last...a few cute pics of Libby!

Fish Face!

Checking out Kramer!

Happy Birthday, Katie!!!

Welcome to the dirty 30's, Kate!!!!!  We love you!!!  Hope it's a great day...and can't wait to celebrate with you tomorrow!!!!

Easter

Wow...almost a month late!  Luckily I have cute kids to make up for my late posting!

 

Our Easter weekend was great...and busy! 

 

Friday night, Rob and my dad decided to make horseradish.  This year, it became a party with Nana and Papa, Auntie Stina, and my mom joining too!  It was a fun night!

 

We started Saturday with our annual Easter Brunch with our friends.  And believe it or not, we forgot to take a big group picture!  Bummer!  But the kids had a great time with their friends!

 

Outside at the Easter Egg hunt.

Libby fell asleep as soon as she hit that bunny's arm!  It must be cozy there!!!  Caitlin was NOT having the bunny, but agreed if Daddy held her.  I think this is Caitlin's first picture with the Easter Bunny!  And obviously Libby's too!  So cute!

I got in for a family picture too.

 

Easter "Eve", Aunt Katie and Vern spent the night.  A lot of wine and beer was consumed, so the Easter Bunny wasn't on his A-game the next morning.  But fun times never the less.

 

Easter morning, the girls came down to see what the Easter Bunny had left them..and where he had hid the eggs...only I'm not sure the Egg Hiders remembered exactly where they hid them!  :)

This year's Easter basket was had a "summer" theme....swim suits and flip flops!

The girls got some new movies.

Libs got this new mat to lay on.

I hear goggles make Easter egg hunts better!  :)

Searching for their loot!

 

After we got things cleaned up, it was time to start our Easter day.  We began with brunch at my parents' house!

The 5 cousins.  They are going to have so much fun growing up together!!!

Aunt Katie and Vern with all the girls.  Very natural, Vern!  :)

Another family picture!  I think we took more this weekend than in the whole previous year.  I love seeing all the girls together!!!!

Grandpa and Aunt Katie took the crazy girls for a walk!

Grandma and Grandpa with the girls.

 

After a great brunch, we headed to Great Nani and Great Papa's house for an amazing dinner!  And as always, I didn't take any great pictures.  I think I'm "pictured out" by the time I get there...I need to get better.  But the girls did take 1 picture in Great Papa's chair.

 

The best part of Easter is it means that Summer in only a few short weeks away!!!!

 

I still have a lot to catch up on...so stay tuned!

Four Months

This little giggly girl is 4 months old.  These months are flying by!!!  It is absolutely amazing how much we LOVE every little milestone that comes along, especially being that it's the 3rd time.  But really, each milestone feels new to me.  There is this very eerie calmness with each milestone that Libby hits.  With Abigail, I was always looking forward to the next milestone.  When she was rolling, I wanted her to sit.  When she was sitting, I wanted her to crawl.  With Caitlin, every milestone felt like the last one because we weren't sure if we were going to have any more kids.  So I was sad at every milestone.  But with Libby, I just enjoy every milestone.  I'm not sad even though I know she's my last one because our family feels so perfectly complete.  And I'm not nervous about what's to come next because she'll do it when she's ready.  It really is just a calm enjoyment!

At 4 months, Libby is still exclusively fed by me (or pumped bottles), although about once a week, she gets 2 ounces of formula to help her tummy and she LOVES it, it's like baby crack!  :)  But my goal continues to be at least 6 months, but now I'm starting to think I might be able to exclusively feed her the whole first year, which would be pretty cool!  We'll see...no stress or worries if we don't!

She was sleeping through the night for a few weeks, and apparently she decided she missed me, so she's up again usually at 2am, 4am, and then 6am...but that's okay.  I love my time with her so I'm sort of glad and enjoying this time...in a weird way of course.

She starting to play with things.  She is focusing on toys in front of her and beginning to reach for things.  She loves to have something in her hand, and anything in her hand will eventually end up in her mouth.

I think she's at the beginning of teething.  Hense everything in her mouth.  She also has lots of drool.  The other girls tended to "teeth" for about 2 months before anything popped through, so maybe around 6 months for Libby too???

She is getting better at tummy time, but no rolling over yet.  Which I'm okay with because I can still leave her on my bed, couch, etc without worrying if she'll roll off. 

Last week she started giggling.  It was hilarious.  She had to be sitting on my head, with Abigail talking to her...and she cracked up for a while.  We recorded it a few times, but I can't seem to put the video on here. And last night at my parents, she would giggle everytime I raised her arms over her head.  Hearing her giggle is one of the best moments...no matter how many kids you have, their 1st laugh  melts your heart.

That's the excitement of a 4 month old.  She is such a sweet, cute baby!  She doesn't have much hair so daddy calls her "Potato Head"..I love having a balder baby after 2 babies with hair.  It's adorable!

Happy 4 Months, Miss Libby Lu!



P.S.  I can't get enough of these 2 pictures. I have shared them with everyone...but I think these will always be my favorites of Libby!  It's just Libby...happy and beautiful in every way!

Great Nani and Papa Visit

A few weeks ago, we had a day off and decided to spend it with Great Nani and Great Papa.  The girls spent the afternoon coloring...and Libby spent the afternoon cuddling with Great Nani.  And mommy spent the afternoon eating, and eating, and eating!  We love our visits and are so lucky the girls get to spend time with their great-grandparents!



And here are two random pictures from my phone:


Libby was so into Abigail's Leap Pad...too cute.


A Shammy!  I'm so happy the girls love shamrock shakes as much as their mommy.  We definitely did a little damage at McDonalds this St. Patrick's Day Season.

Read below for our St. Patrick's Day post!!!!!

Happy St. Patty's Day

The Wennerstroms LOVE St. Patty's Day..even if we aren't Irish.  We're all Irish on St. Patrick's Day, right?  And we gave one of our kids an Irish name so we could be included!  :)

 

2 weekends ago, we headed to the Elmhurst parade.  It's always such a fun day, even if it was a little cold this year.  Thankfully, most of the time we were inside at the Glure's home. We brought the kids with us for the parade part, then we brought them home to have a sleepover with Nana and Papa (thank you so much Nana and Papa) while we went back for the adult portion of the evening.

 

Here are few pictures of the day:

 

Daddy of the year!  Libby was the warmest person at the parade...and thanks Patrick for sharing your super cute hat!!!!

Daddy and his 3 girls.  Behind them were the bagpipes...we made some "buddies"!!!!  The girls were decked out in green, but their jackets covered it up.  It's hard to believe at the same parade a year ago, they were in short sleeve shirts...and we didn't even know about Miss Libby yet!!!!  What a difference a year makes!

Not a great family picture, but proof we were all there!  :)  In the background you can see cutie Patrick enjoying his 1st St. Patrick's Day parade.  His wagon also doubled as a cooler holder, so he was super popular at the parade!  :)

Caitlin made my heart melt.  She has always been in love with Irish dancers...and we knew she had to go to the parade to check it out.  She was so excited and waved at the dancers the whole time.  Then, they stopped right in front of her and danced..and she started dancing along with them.  It was so adorable.  I have spoken with one dance company about her starting lessons this summer..she will be in heaven.  I'm debating on waiting a year because next year she can do our park district dance class with the recital and I feel that every kid should do it one year...and then maybe start Irish dancing.  We'll see....either way, she was loving the dancers!!!

 

The girls both had St. Patrick Day celebrations at school.  They were happy to pose for a picture for me! 

Caitlin always striking a pose!

Abigail as sweet as ever.

 

Libby also wore her cute St. Patrick's Day sleeper, but I couldn't find a good picture.  But couldn't do a post without this sweet baby: 

Melts.  My.  Heart!  Love this little girl!

 

Hope your St. Patrick's Day was full of good luck and green beer!  :)

 

Leigh is here!!!

 

Leigh Gracen Blandford is here!!!

 

She was born today at 12:33pm, weighing 6lbs 3oz.  She is beautiful and perfect...and very well behaved!  :) 

 

Jules is doing good!  She was pretty sick from all the meds after her c-section...but hopefully she starts to feel better soon!  She was a trooper though with 10 people in her room!!! 

 

When I got to Leigh's room, she was already busy cuddling with both her Nana and Papas, her big sister Lucy (and her daddy of course), Aunt Katie and Vern, and Uncle Rob.  But not to worry...I got my hands on her right away!  All we were missing were Leigh's Aunt Jill and Uncle Jake, but they will be here soon to meet her all the way from Colorado...and Aunt Jill and Aunt Beth talked on facebook and are all thinking about Leigh!  :)

 

Leigh happens to share her 1st name with Aunt Katie (Kathryn Leigh).  And her middle name is in honor of Joe's sweet, sweet Grandma Grace.  What a perfect name for a perfect girl!

 

Lucy seemed to be handling all the excitement with ease.  Maybe it was her overdose of McDonalds from Nana and Papa :)  but she seemed very happy!  She was cuddling with Leigh and kept resting her head on Leigh's head.  Very cute!!!!

 

I hope Jules and Joe get as much rest as possible the next few days in the hospital so they are refreshed to go home and begin their new life as a family of 4!!!

 

Congrats Jules, Joe, and Lucy!  Leigh is perfect!  And welcome to our CRAZY family, Leigh.  Get ready...we're loud and crazy, but you will ALWAYS be loved in our family!!!!

 

Lucy giving Leigh a hug.

Kisses from mommy!  Nothing better in life.

Proud Aunt and Uncle!!!!

Such a little peanut!!!!  She's in my hands, so small!!!

Aunt Katie and Vern.  They brought Leigh a big stuffed animal..and Vern carried it all through law school today!   :)

My beautiful niece!

 

More pictures to come soon...especially a picture of the family of 4!!!

 

Welcome to the world, Leigh Gracen!  We LOVE you!!!!