3 Months

Ann Elizabeth is three months. (I started this post at the lake when she was actually turning 3 months but never finished it)  Our little girl is growing up so fast!  She loves babbling and has even started giggling in the last several days. She is such a sweet baby and always full of smiles.  She is a great sleeper and sleeps about 11 hours at night and takes two good naps and a few shorter ones during the day.  She rolled over once while we were at the lake but hasn't done it again since.  She loves swinging in her swing and watching her brother.  It won't be long before she is down in the floor playing with him.  Thankfully she enjoys watching Baby Einstein because those videos were a lifesaver on the 7 hour ride in the car we just took. 

Quote of the Day

Here are my two favorite quotes from Sterling yesterday:

First, the TV was on the Today show or something while we were playing cars (what else) when Justin Bieber came on.  He started singing, of course, and here was our conversation:

Sterling: What's that, Mommy.
Me: It's a boy singing, Sterling
Sterling: Um ... No I think that's probably a girl.

Yesterday afternoon we were reading a book when Sterling suddenly announced the following:

"I like turtles, Mommy.  You like mermaids.  And Daddy likes turtles, too.  And Ann Elizabeth likes mermaids.  And I like turtles and beavers." 

What???  I love it when he's so random.  Don't you just wonder what's going on in that head of theirs sometimes

Lake Santa Fe

We've just gotten back from a wonderful vacation to Florida.  There were so many posts that I tried to do while we were there, but I just never got around to it.  So hopefully I can get around at least to updating our little girl's progress as she is now 3 months old. 

One thing that I did get around to was taking pictures of course.   So I posted lots so that you can see what we've been up to for the past week.  

 

Having fun with great-grandparents

 Sterling loves fishing and even caught his first fish!!

 

He caught a pretty nice sized brim for his first fish

Happy Father's Day

Watching Baby Einstein together

 Ann Elizabeth enjoyed some bonding time with her Grammy.  This is what they did most of the time.  Grammy hardly put her down!!

Sterling has been a little frightened by the water this year.  But he went straight in the water and swam like a little fish.  It's so funny because this is where he decided to start swimming last year as well.

Blowing bubbles

Having a picnic on the dock.  Look at that PB&J face.  He was just getting started

Cute smiles

No More Pacis

Sterling's paci has been limited to his bed for quite some time now.  He also has been bad about chewing on them to the point that they get holes.  We keep telling him that if he chews holes in them then we have to throw them away.  So, many a paci has found it's way into the trash because it looks like it has been gnawed on by a dog.

The other day Sterling forgot to drop the paci in the bed before he got up.  So, I playfully took his paci out and told him to quit chewing on it, because of course he was.  His response was, "Throw it away."  I explained that we didn't have to throw it away yet but if he kept chewing on it we eventually would.  He again told me to throw it away.  I told him I thought it was his last paci, because I really wasn't sure where another one was.  After continuing to insist on putting it in the trash, I finally gave in thinking I should cease the opportunity.

However, this was not how I was planning to give them up.  As long as he kept it in the bed I was really willing to let him keep it until about three, but after hearing him continuing to suggest we throw the paci away I thought maybe he was ready.

Well, I was wrong!  It was two full days of drama at bedtime/naptime and he still asks about it almost every time he goes to bed.  But I think he has finally decided that life is ok without the pacis.

Quote of the Week

Sterling has been going in "big church" with us some recently.  This was his comment last Sunday as he was deciding just to stay in the nursery, "In big church you have to be quiet, in my little church we get to talk."

Laundry Detergent

I've been meaning to post this recipe for laundry detergent for a while now.  I tried to make some powdered laundry detergent a few months ago because I saw so many people trying it and you can save so much $$ making your own.  However, the powdered detergent was not for me.  It didn't dissolve well so I stopped using it.

Then I decided surly you can make liquid laundry detergent.  So, I did a quick Google search and found this one on the Duggars website.  I made a trip to Walmart to get the required soap (they now sell all the ingredients, not the case for my first go round).   I attempted to make it.  It took like 30 minutes tops and it not only was so easy, but it makes 10 gallons!!  Did you catch that 10 GALLONS!!  I was afraid it wouldn't get out little boy stains, but then again Michelle Duggar has a whole slew of them, so if it is what she uses it I thought it was worth a shot.

Not only do you feel a huge sense of accomplishment after making your own laundry soap, I am happy to report it cleans very well.  Red mud, food stains, everything comes out well and if I need a little extra stain fighter I throw in a little OxyClean (but I'm not really sure I really need it).  I am very pleased with it. No more expensive laundry detergent for me!!

Sword Fights

My mom always told me that eventually little boys would turn everything into weapons.  She said she never let my brother have guns and swords until he started turning carrots and sticks and just about anything into them.  I think Sterling has hit that stage.  I don't even think he knew the word sword, but his golf clubs have now become swinging swords.  I'm sure playing things like cowboys, knights, and superheros is just around the corner.  Here are some pictures from the other day.  Note that Sterling got to fight with two swords while Mommy only got one.  

 I like how these show the action

Bears Don't Drink From a Cup

Sterling sings this song everyday thanks to Aunt Hillary.



At least it isn't these anymore







Just thought I'd share! Got any grapes??