By Geri Imler on 3/4/2010 9:47 AM

Lately, Abigail and Emma have been loving on each other at the dinner table.  They will hug each other and say things like, "I love my sister!"  or "I love you!" to each other.  It is nothing short of adorable.  Seriously, I feel like I should be taping it to show them when they get older and butt heads.  I did snap a few photos the other night (and they are shirtless as it was spagetti night!). 

  

Emma and Abigail giving hugs at dinner.  Super duper cute!

Also, since Sophie can sit up by herself, the girls have been playing a lot more with her.  It is so neat to see all three of them interacting more now!  And Sophie looks like such a biggie girl sitting up to play with her sissies!  Check out some of their sister fun below!

  

All three girls playing together!

  

Playing together some more!

And just for the fun of it, we made paper crowns one day with Abby and Emma's names on them.  They then decorated them with stickers.  Here is Abby's (Emma had a bit of a meltdown so didn't end up finishing her crown). 

  

With the first round of stickers (left) and her final product (right).

 

By Geri Imler on 3/4/2010 8:48 AM

We decided to head to the Children's Museum the other day because we had not been there in a while and the girls had been asking about the Bob the Builder exhibit that was suppose to be there.  So we took them and explored the 50 Years of Barbie exhibit, the Bob the Builder exhibit, rode on the carousel, and checked out our usual dinosaurs area.  It was a great time, and the girls had a ton of fun.  One of my favorite things was when we all sat down to draw and trace dinosaur fossils together.  We passed the fossils back and forth and made fun drawings that we later hung on the refrigerator.  During this ten minutes of time, Sophie, the wonder baby, somehow managed to unscrew her bottle while sitting in her car seat, and proceeded to pour it all on herself.  Seriously, how can a six month old baby do that?!?  It was not that big of a deal, though, as we were heading out of the museum to get the girls home for a nap anyways. Another highlight was that the girls are old enough now to ride on the horses that move up and down on the carousel, which they loved.   All in all, a very memorable day! 

  

The girls are super excited to head into the museum, as they run to the door (left)!  Are those dinosaurs?!? (right)

  

Answering phone calls for Barbie (left)!  Love it!  And Emma checking out a machine in the Bob the Builder exhibit (right).

  

Abigail in Wendy's camper (left) and with Bob (right) at the Bob the Builder exhibit.

    

Abigail and Emma putting up and taking down rocks on a wall (left), and going down a slide (middle).  Emma with Bob the Builder (right).

  

On the carousel, the girls got to go on horses that move up and down (left), and Sophie enjoying the ride, too (right).

By Geri Imler on 3/2/2010 8:29 PM

Just a fun few photos showing how silly my girls are with their Mommy!  They love to act like I am a train, or a horse, or whatever.  Here is an example of "Mommy Train!"

  

Sophie, Abigail, and Emma on the Mommy Train!

By Geri Imler on 3/2/2010 8:10 PM

In February, Sophie, our little wonder baby, started sitting herself up from a laying down position all on her own.  If she is on her back, she'll roll over and push herself up into sitting, then balance herself.  Now these things are normally done by a 9-10 month old, but our little, oh-so-mobile, never stops moving Sophie figured out how to do it already.  She is also getting on all fours and rocking back and forth, and often moves between sitting to all fours and back again.  I am sure she will be crawling soon!  And of course she loves to stand and mostly supports herself, so maybe she will also be on the move by walking in the near future!  Check out the first time she pushed up to sitting from laying down...she was so proud of herself!

     

Sophie first realizing she did it (left), and then being very proud of herself (middle), and then going for a toy now that she is sitting up (right).  Super cute!

By Geri Imler on 3/2/2010 2:29 PM

Abigail and Emma turned three in February, and they had a great day ringing in the big occasion.  In the morning, they put on their special shirts and got some photos with each other and with Sophie.  Then it was off to a fun day at the YMCA, followed by a trip to the grocery store so they could each pick out a small birthday cake for that night.  After lunch (which was a cooked chicken they picked out at the grocery store), and a nap, we headed over to their friend's house to play.  Then it was out to eat at Red Robin, where they were pleasantly surprised to meet the actual Red Robin bird.  The girls were also surprised by the waiters there as they sang to them and brought them a huge ice cream sundae (they only ate about a fourth of it b/c it was so big!).  When we got home, we sang to them while Sophie was still awake (it was getting late and she needed to head to bed).  Then after putting Sophie to sleep, we opened lots of cards and presents, ate some cake and ice cream, got a tubtub, and watch a bit of a movie.  It was a wonderful day and night for them and all of us!  Happy 3rd Birthday, Abigail and Emma!

     

Abigail and Emma on their 3rd birthday!

  

Abigail and Emma with Sophie on their 3rd birthday.  I LOVE these photos!  Sophie kept trying to talk to Abby or Emma, so it was hard to get her to look at me!

  

Playing at their friends' house, the girls hid in the closet.  When I would open the door, they would start laughing and screaming...too funny! (left)  Later, they all decided it was cool to drink out of blue plastic cups together!  (right)

  

Sophie playing at their friends' house (left), and the girls blowing out candles on little cupcakes after we all sang to them (right).

     

At their friends' house, the girls thought the icicles outside the door were super neat (left and middle).  Sophie out to dinner (right).

  

Emma and Abigail meeting RED, the Red Robin bird!  I love their smiles!  They were amazed and thought it was just for their birthday!

  

Emma (left) and Abigail (right) with their huge ice cream sundaes at dinner.

    

Back home, we took a family photo before Sophie went to bed (left).  The girls told us how old they are ("three!") when we asked (middle), and checked out their cakes while we all sang to them (right).

     

Blowing out their candles (left)!  Abigail (middle) and Emma (right) opening presents.

     

Curious George vintage lunch boxes (left)!  Abigail tries it out as a hat (middle).  Abby and Emma checking out the Tinkerbell figurines they got (right).

  

The girls pointing out which ones they like (left), and looking at a new game they got called Zingo (right).

  

Reading new Little People Flap books (left), and Emma showing one of her fun Dr. Seuss characters and books they got (right).

  

The Dr. Seuss characters interacting (left), and the girls getting a new Tinkerbell DVD (right).

By Geri Imler on 2/22/2010 3:41 PM

On February 14th, 2010, we celebrated Abigail and Emma's upcoming third birthday with a party at our house.  The girls were super cute and so excited about it all.  They loved the decorations I put up (they chose Tinkerbell together this year as the theme), were thrilled about their Tinkerbell cakes, and could not wait to open all of their fun presents.  It was mostly just immediated family and a few of their friends.  When their friends showed up, Abigail said with a big smile, "All of my friends are here!"  It was a-dor-a-ble!  For their party, we had a ton of yummy food, had cake and ice cream, and opened presents.  It was just perfect for them, and I think they had a wonderful time!  I can't hardly believe they are three already!  Such biggie girls!  

     

In the morning, before the party, the girls played with PaPa (left).  Tinkerbell birthday cakes (middle and right).

      

Photos of Emma and Abigail before the party.  Tim and I made the shirts for them to wear, and they looked SUPER CUTE!

    

Before their friends got here, my parents gave out Valentine's Day goodies to them.  Sophie (left), Emma (middle), and Abigail (right) really liked all that they got!

  

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Abigail and Emma (left), and them blowing out their candles (right).

  

Still working on those candles (left)!  And enjoying their cake and ice cream (right).

       

Abigail (left) and Emma (middle) really liked the icing on their cakes!  The girls had quite the funny faces after eating all of those colors (right)!

 

Abigail (left) and Emma (right)

  

Friends Kirsten and Addie (left) enjoyed cake and ice cream, as well as did their sister, Lily (right), with her mom, Hayley.

  

The girls waited anxiously at the bottom of the steps as Gramma and Grandpa brought down their new reading chairs with their names on them (left).  After that, the girls opened their gifts in their new chairs (right).

  

Teamwork (left)!  And getting fun purses with stickers inside (right).

     

Getting cool flipping race cars (left), and Abigail and Emma opening gifts (middle and right).

  

Emma and Abigail working on opening the big present from Mommy and Daddy.

  

It turned out to be a big tent that will go up in their room.  Abigail tested it out by laying on it while Emma checked the directions (left).  Sophie playing with MawMaw after the party was over (right).

  

More fun photos of biggie girl Sophie as she sits up to play with her penguin (left), and a spatula and plastic cup (right). 

  

The girls in their new "reading corner" in their playroom (left), and having fun in their new ladybug tent that is set up in the playroom (right).

By Geri Imler on 2/22/2010 11:28 AM

We took some photos of Sophie when she turned six months old on February 14th, 2010.  She did have a bad cold when she woke up, so her nose is a bit red and her eyes are a little tired looking.  But overall, we think her photo session with us went great!  There were a ton of cute ones, but here are just a few of them!

  

  

  

By Geri Imler on 2/22/2010 10:48 AM

The weekend of Abigail and Emma's thrid birthday party started out with a lot of fun!  First, MawMaw came into town on Friday to help with running errands and getting ready for the party.  That Friday night the Olympics started, so the girls got to see a few skiers on TV.  They thought it was super cool when they would "blast off" and jump, yelling out "wheeeeee!"  Then, on Saturday, we got up early to head over to a party for their friends, Kirsten, Addie, and Lily.  It was super fun, and the girls LOVE hanging out with their friends.  They played with toys, ate cupcakes and Jimmy Johns, and helped them to open their presents.  Of course, they were not shy in wanting to help test out the new things their friends got, but they were pretty good overall.  Then, after a nap, we went over to a hotel to meet up with cousins Ethan and Austin, as well as Aunt Mimi and Uncle Ryan.  They were staying at a hotel so the kids could have some pool time, so Abigail, Emma, and Sophie got to enjoy some water fun.  Emma especially liked the hot tub (which was surprising) because it had tons of bubbles in it.  After some swimming, we all headed out to dinner at Max and Erma's and then back to our house for some family time together.  It was a great start to an already exciting weekend! 

     

Friday night with MawMaw -- enjoying some goldfish before bed (left).  At their friends' party -- Tim with Sophie (middle), and Abigail working a party horn (right).

     

At their friends' party -- Tim and Sophie (left), Abigail trying to get a balloon (middle), and both girls chasing balloons (right).

Their friends -- Addie, Lily, and Kirsten -- opening presents.

   

Abigail and Emma helping Lily open a present (left).  Abigail demonstrating how to swim in new floaties (right).

  

Later, out to dinner with cousins Austin and Ethan (left).  Austin and Ethan enjoying some Wii time at our house (right).

By Geri Imler on 2/22/2010 8:33 AM

Let's see...the first half of February included a fun snow day outside making snowmans with Daddy, Sophie getting to try out a swing for the first time (in the snow!), Sophie holding her own bottle, fun puzzles from a friend, Valentine's Day, and great sister time!  Abigail and Emma also learned to use the potty (yippee!) while we are still working with Sophie to get her to sleep through the night.  Overall, it was a VERY busy start of the month!  Check it out!

     

Abigail swinging in the snow (left).  Sophie enjoying her first time in a swing (middle)!  Emma also having some swing fun (right).

  

Emma and Abigail helping to build a snowman (left) and the end result (right).

  

Meanwhile, inside Sophie works on getting a Nuker to chew on.

  

On to building another snowman in the front yard with Daddy (left).  Emma and Abigail with their second creation (right)!

Sophie holding her own bottle!

  

Abigail and Emma with some fun puzzles a friend of mine sent them to enjoy.

    

Our Valentine's Day!  Abigail & Emma opening their cards (left), and Sophie with her first Valentine's Day card (middle and right).  Of course she had to eat it!

    

Abigail and Emma being super adorable (left)!  Emma, Sophie, and Abigail ready to head out to do some errands (middle).  Sophie rocking her shades (right)!

By Geri Imler on 2/15/2010 1:41 PM

So, let's try to get caught up a bit.  Back in January, Tim and I took a little time to ourselves and left the girls for the weekend with his parents.  It was the first time since Abigail and Emma were born that I had left them (almost three years!), so I was a bit anxious, but also excited.  We went to Chicago for the weekend, enjoying dinner out with friends, the Shedd Aquarium, shopping on Michigan Avenue, and a romantic dinner out together (with no kids!).  It was a wonderful weekend, and the girls had a ton of fun with Gramma and Grandpa!  I must admit it was nice sleeping all night and sleeping in the next morning, but it was sure strange to not have anyone else to look after, pack up, clean up after, worry about, etc.  I can't remember the last time when the only bag I had to lug around was my purse! 

     

Photos of Tim and I before heading out to dinner both nights. 

The day after we got home, I had walked out of the family room to get something, only to return to find Sophie had discovered a new toy....the box that holds all of her toys.  She had somehow pulled it over the top of herself, and when I lifted it up to peek in at her, she just smiled and tried to pull it down over her head again.  She played with this box for a long time, proud of herself when she would pull it down and surprised when I would lift it back up.  It was super cute and shows just how ornery Sophie is!

  

This is how I found Sophie (left), and this is her reaction when I picked up the box to say, "peek-a-boo" to her (right).

  

Sophie trying to pull the box back down on herself.

  

She had so much fun with it (left)!  Somehow she got herself turned around, too, and instead of her head, she got her legs in the box (right).

Sophie

Tim also had the fun experience of feeding Sophie her "mush" (rice cereal), which was the first time he has done that with her.  She seemed to enjoy it!

  

Tim feeding Sophie (left) and her thinking, "Do I have something on my face?!?" (right).

Lastly, we all went to a bounce house one day.  Abigail and Emma ran around like crazy while Sophie slept a bit and then hung out in the Snugli with me.  The girls became more brave the longer we were there at the bounce house, and Emma even went down some really big slides by herself several times.  The girls had a lot of fun, and I am sure we will make a return trip some time!  We didn't take our camera into the bounce house, but we did get a cute photo of Sophie in her hat later when we got home.  Check her out!

Sophie in her cute hat!