4 Years Old-Strawberry Shortcake Style!

A fews after we celebrated Red's birthday as a family, we had a little party at our home for her friends in the building.  We were also blessed to be joined by Ali & Millie all the way from Texas (that post is coming soon!).
I had asked Delilah what she wanted as the theme, and after some serious competition from SpiderMan & My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake won out.  The only thematically appropriate decorations to be found were at Party City, in mid-town.  So the morning of the party, Ali, Millie, Delilah, Noelle, and myself took a cab down there.  I loaded up my cart and then made the brilliant decision to buy a dozen helium-filled balloons.  These are the times that I miss the ease of a car:  trying to find one of the mini-van cabs with 3 girls under 4, two moms (one of whom is 8 months pregnant), while carrying two shopping bags and a dozen balloons.  Did I mention we had no strollers so Ali & I were both holding wriggling toddlers as well? :)  I think it might have even been sprinkling, but I could be making that up for effect.  Suffice to say, it was actually really funny and we did manage to make it home in one piece!
   We set up for the party, and around 5pm we were joined by 6 adults and ten kids, making it 9 adults and 13 kids in all...how could we not have had a good time?

    The kids went crazy and the parents sipped wine and it was all over around 7 or 7:30.  I have NEVER seen the girls' rooms destroyed so thoroughly, so I know there was a ton of playing going on.  Delilah loved having everyone sing to her, and the dessert was a hit.  I decided to forego the usual cupcakes and embrace the theme by making individual strawberry shortcake push-up pops...they weren't ready for their magazine close-up or anything, but I think they came out pretty well.

Lots of fun and Delilah slept until 8:30 the next morning...unheard of in this house!!

And here's the update on 4 year old Delilah:
Height: 39.25" (75th%)
Weight: 37.5 lbs (10th%)
BMI: 16.9 (50th%)

So physically she's tall and skinny and perfectly healthy.  This is what else I know about you at 4, Delilah:
-you live for Saturdays when you make pancakes with Daddy
-you live for Friday mornings when you get to take ballet "clessons" (you've combine classes and lessons into your own hybrid word)
-you live for undressing your sister out of her normal clothes and then dressing her back up in princess dresses. With heels and a crown and jewelry and anything else she'll let you put on her.
-you live for Mommy.  You are still my little sidekick.
-you live for chasing birds.  You promise me you will catch one someday.
-you live for puzzles (you can do 100 pieces now!!) and art and cooking.
-you live for cooking shows.  When you get overstimulated, you will ask me or Daddy if you can watch a cooking show to relax.
-you live. period.  you embrace life more than just about anyone I know.  In a group of kids you are always the one laughing the hardest, smiling the biggest, and just trying to embrace every moment to the fullest.

Sweet Red, you are so funny and interesting and smart and kind.  There is no one like you...your daddy, your sister, and I can't believe we get to spend every day with you.  Love you, sweetheart.

Wordless Wednesdays: "Coloring is our Favorite Thing to do Together!!"

18 Months Old!

A year and a half!!
Here are your stats:
Height: 33.5" (90%)
Weight: 26.5 lbs (75%)
Head:  18.5"  (75%)

-You are such a daredevil, Ellie Bug.  I have to stay within arm's reach of you on the playground b/c there is no ladder you think you can't climb, and no slide you think is too big for you. 
-You race to greet people with open arms and still stare at strangers until they make eye contact with you and acknowledge your cuteness. 
-You are a beast in cabs and buses b/c you do not want to be contained.  I end every ride feeling like I just wrestled an alligator.
- You love all songs, but Ring Around the Rosie and Twinkle, Twinkle are two big favorites right now.
- You say about 20-25 words including:  mama, dada, Lala (for your sister), hi, bye, hello, no, pig, blue, bubbles, uh-oh, up, out, yes, more, bird, moo, circle, cow, cheese
- You LOVE birds and point out every one you see.
- Your sister could eat the same thing for every meal, but you get bored.  I can give you oatmeal every morning for 4 days, then offer it to you on the 5th and you look at me as if I've lost my mind and how could I possibly think you might want oatmeal.
- You give hugs and kisses all the time.
- You love to climb into your sister's bed and snuggle.
- You love to have something to hold.  At the zoo last week, you were tired and fussy.  I didn't have a blanket for you (it was hot outside), but we had just received a free toddler's shirt for becoming members.  I rolled up the shirt and handed it to you and you immediately hugged it, calmed down, and fell asleep.
- You love to follow directions.
- You will imitate anything your sister does.
- You sleep from 8pm to 7am, and take a 2-3 hour nap around noon.
- You strut.  Seriously, it's so cute.  You have this way of walking where you sort of sway your hips and prance.
- You say cheese whenever you see a camera.
- You HATE having your diaper changed. 
- You sing and hum a lot.
- When you wake up, you love to play with your Glow Worm.
- If you hurt yourself, you want Mommy, but the rest of the time you want Daddy.  You are such a Daddy's Girl. 
- You can laugh like an evil villain- "Ah hah hah hah".  I know that's not going to convey anything written down, but when I read it, I will remember your laugh. :)
- I think coloring is your favorite thing to do right now and you will not be confined to paper.  Walls, tables, yourself...all are fair mediums!

We love watching you grow up; you are just so FUN!!!

Happy 4th, Delilah!!!!

Happy 4th Birthday, sweet Red!!!  This past week, Delilah has told anyone and everyone that her birthday is April 21st and she is going to be 4 years old.  We will have a party with friends this week, but we decided to make her actual birthday a family day.  We hopped on a bus without telling her where we were going and took it all the way to the Bronx Zoo!!!!
The walk from the bus to the front gate was only a couple minutes, but it took about 20 because Delilah just kept wandering off to pick flowers and climb on rocks.

The Bronx Zoo is enormous and basically built inside a forest.  Absolutely gorgeous.  The girls loved the animals, but I think it's safe to say that they were just happy to be out of the city and in some nature.

Somebody loves her daddy

Sweet girl

Noelle was wandering around aimlessly, when she suddenly spotted a rhino walking across an exhibit.  I have never seen her run so fast...she HAD to check out the incredible creature!

Little fox

Taking a break

Reminds me of singing to Red when she was a baby, "you are my sunshine, my only sunshine..."

This pic cracks me up.  Look at her little arms sticking out!

Delilah's favorite parts of the day were the Dora & Diego 4-D adventure, the carousel, the polar bears, the twisty slide that was inside a tree and running around like a maniac in general.  My favorite part of the day was watching our sweet daughters play and play and play together.  They get fussy with each other like any siblings, but, man, their love for each other is strong and fierce.  It is so beautiful to see.

 We finally headed home, where Noelle took a looooong nap, but somehow Red stayed up.  Too excited to sleep, I guess.  We opened presents, had dinner, and then cake. 

 After bath time, Red put on one of her presents from Aunt Kim & Uncle Ted: an Ariel spa kit consisting of mask, towel, and slippers.  How cute is she?!?!?

As she went to bed, the last thing Delilah said was, "This was my favorite day ever."
Happy Birthday, sweet girl.  You made April 21, 2008 one of my favorite days ever.  We love you.

May you always be this happy!!!!

Wordless Wednesdays: "Hey, Mom & Dad, I'm a better climber than you thought"

Happy Easter!!!

I know I've been MIA for a couple weeks, but I am back!  (Appropriate day to return, no?)  This morning we had big plans for the girls to look through their Easter baskets together, then hunt for the eggs that Mr. Bunny hid last night.  Alas, this was the first day in about a month that they haven't woken up within 15 minutes of each other.  Delilah woke up about an hour before Noelle, and trying to get her to wait was like shaking a Coke can, opening it, and then expecting it not to fizz everywhere b/c you asked it nicely to stay inside the can.  Delilah kept finding eggs, opening them, dumping out the contents, then refilling and putting the eggs back.  Finally we let her go for it and she was so very happy.  Worked out well, b/c when Noelle finally woke up, she was super excited to find Delilah's basket of eggs just waiting to be dumped out! :)

Then we headed off to church, stopping along the way to take a few pics.

 Service was lovely...NYC church services tend to be especially lovely b/c there's all that Broadway and Carnegie Hall talent just begging to be used in worship.  Afterwards, the congregation spilled onto the streets and we passed out Hot Cross Buns to anyone who wanted one.  Delilah didn't do much passing; opting instead to sit down on the pavement and eat her own. :)

And as seems to often be the case on special days: I am typing this while everyone in my home is sleeping.

Thank you, God, for your son. And thank you for filling my life with so many precious blessings.