Lucy's Stats

Since Lucy's 9 month doctor's visit fell well after her "I Love Lucy" update {waiting for my fave pediatrician to return from vacation}, I thought I would take this opportunity to bring you up to speed on our growing baby girl.

Just as I suspected back at that 9 month post, our little one is growing "out".  And believe it or not she's even keeping some of that height.

Weight     20lbs     75th percentile
Length     28.5 inches     80th percentile

No more long and lean baby.  I've got a perfectly plump {and oh, so edible} little Lu.  Delish!  Now, that's how we grow Cibula babies around here.

More Lucy to love on equals one happy Momma.

Memorial Weekend

We spent this Memorial Day Weekend welcoming summer.

What was supposed to be a very laid back transition into our summer turned out to be extremely busy...and wet.  We accepted a lot of last minute invitations to various places with a "sure, I think we can handle that" kind of answer. I think I can safely speak for all of us that we are glad we did.  Everyone had a wonderful time.

In turn, I've had the pleasure the last day or so trying to re-rest my kiddos.  All in the name of fun.

We made a quick trip to my aunt and uncle's lake house. I  foresee a lot of visits up there this summer.  It's only about a 50 minute drive north and the kids adore it....boats, kayaks, floats, family, and of course, the lake.

The water was way too cold for Lu and I so we spent most of the time on the dock watching the bigs.  They had a little warm up period {literally} and then were good to go for the most part.

Following our lake day, Grandma had this great idea to go to the Botanical Gardens.  Sadly, this was my first time there.  I can't believe I've never been and neither had the kids until my Mom took them back at Christmas.  This was right up Jack's "new alley".  His most recent obsessions...nature, animals, exploring.  The "exploring" posed a bit of a problem for me, the stroller, and Lucy.  But we persevered.

Next up was a low key cook out at the Zimmerman's.  So thankful for this invite from a mommy of a 5 month old.  Brave if I do say so myself.  I'm still not even in hosting mode.

The little ones loved swimming in the heated up pool.  {more like it}.  Lucy even took a dip.  I'm starting to see a trend this summer...Lucy and a toy fish in her mouth.

For some reason, these goggles crack me up.

Between three families, we had 9 kids there.  Nuts, huh? After dinner the 6 and under crowd organized a game of Duck Duck Goose which quickly turned into an all out run around the yard.

Naturally, Lucy was in pure awwww...

So now I'm off to the very important task of "organizing" our summer.  I have two lists in hand...Jack's Summer List and Maggie's Summer List, two calendars printed...June and July, and a pencil with a big fat eraser.  This should be fun.  There is nothing I enjoy more than a little organizational challenge.

Jack's Wrap Up

I've been saving Jack's "Wrap Up" for a while now.  It's been going on for over two weeks.  Being 6 is a busy job, you know.  Once it started it just kept going.  It's fair to say we are both very ready for a summer break.

Ironically it all started with a closer.  A baseball closer that is.  After a very wet and way too many rescheduled games kind of season we celebrated Jack's Tiger Team party.  It too was rained out so the team Mom {which I almost volunteered for and am so glad that I didn't} had a plan B.  Mellow Mushroom...brilliant if you ask me.  The boys loved it, the siblings loved it, and it didn't even matter that it was raining...again.

Go Tigers!

We followed that close out with Jack's school Field Day.  I find Field Day fitting for this post because you always know it means summer is just right around the corner.  What else are you going to do with a bunch of pent up "is it almost summer" energy?  I applaud whomever timed this event so perfectly.

Jack's class were the Falcons.  He was either to wear Falcon attire {which we had none of} or the team colors.  I never knew there was such debate on the Falcons colors.  I searched the internet to confirm and found about three different answers.  All included red so that's what we did.

There is nothing cuter than an elementary school Field Day if you ask me.  I had a great time following the "Falcons" from station to station.  Those were some determined {and very energetic} kiddos.

And last, but certainly, not least was Jack's End of Year class Play.  Actually it was the exact opposite of least...it was my fave of all the above events.

The play was titled Goldilocks vs The Three Bears.  Intrigued yet?  Jack played Babe E. Bear...the cutest Baby Bear ever, as only a Mother can say.

We worked on his lines for a good two weeks.  My child, with what I consider an insanely accurate memory when it comes to text and facts, had it down in about two days.  But, we kept on trucking just to make sure it was perfect.

The play went remarkably well considering the actors and actresses were a mere 6 years old.  One of the lines by another character was a bit scrambled and for a moment I saw a paused look on Jack's face, but he recovered and made his portion of the play a raging success.

This Momma Bear was beaming with pride.

The play was a court room trial.  The three bears took Goldilocks to court.  Here is Babe E. Bear being sworn in by the bailiff before he takes the stand.

And here is Babe E. Bear answering every question with the truth and nothing but the truth.

There is way more cuteness to be seen.  These pictures could never do the trick.  So...I've got video!

Mrs. W asked Clay and I to record the entire play so that she could show it to the class before school was out.  I'm sure you have no interest in the entire trial, but I sure hope you have interest in Jack's big acting debut.  Just fast forward to about 5 minute 30 sec and you'll be to Babe E. Bear played by none other than the ever adorable Jack Cibula.

Enjoy the show...and your summer.  I know we did and we will!

I Love Lucy: 9 Months

Lucy is 9 months old today...and the firecracker has emerged.  You know the old saying, "bouncing baby boy"?  Well, Lucy would like to give those boys a run for their money and then some.

My lovely Lu is still as lovely as ever and...busy, wiggly, squirmy, fidgety, upside down, all around, and flipped over.  Yes, she is that on the go.  If I've given you the impression that she is crawling, please excuse me.  No, she is not crawling yet.  Amazingly she can do all those things from the comfort  of the floor or even in your arms.  I'm shocked {and relieved} I haven't dropped the bouncing baby girl yet.

So what gets her going?  Let the post begin...

Eat

One might think that baby girl starts her day with a spoon cup full of sugar.  But that is not the case.  No, it's the same ol' same ol'.  A nice 6oz bottle and a bowl of cereal and fruit.  Usually followed by a few Cheerios.  Which she can successfully get to her mouth these days.

No sugar at lunch or dinner either unless you count the 562 kisses I give her in between.  Lunch is another 6oz bottle after her morning nap and then veggies and fruit closer to family lunch time.  For dinner she does a 4oz bottle after her afternoon nap and then meat and veggies.

She tops off her day with an 8oz bottle at bedtime {if she can sit still long enough to drink it}.

Lucy has tried a few nibbles of our food.  She does great and really enjoys them.  However, it's not for the faint of heart.  I watch her like an eagle and then panic when she so much as coughs.  I have this serious fear of a choking baby.  {I imagine that's normal?}  She loves niblets of turkey, watermelon, bread, broccoli, and just about anything that is on our plate.  So far no aversions on her end.  I'm hoping we have a not so picky eater in the works.

This would also be a nice place to note that Lucy is pretty much spit up free.  {"yay!", says my washing machine}  It seems she is keeping more down and packing on the lbs in return.

Activity

Although Lucy stills spends most of her time at home, she is a busy girl.

Her morning wake time is about an hour and 15 min.  By the time we get everyone up and fed it's nearly time for her morning nap.  But before that, she loves waking her bigs up {especially on the weekends when Jack is home}.  I foresee a very happy Lucy this summer when she can consistently wake up both of her bigs.  We stand outside their door and do a little "knock knock knock" while Lucy literally flips herself out my arms to grab the door knob.  Feet kicking and sweet little voice hollering the whole time.  While I prepare breakfast Lucy hangs in her activity center in the kitchen.  To avoid having her live in that thing {which could be easy to do} we have deemed mornings as "exersauscer time".

Her afternoon wake time is the longest of all.  It is generally two and a half hours {give or take 15 min}.  This is when LuLu gets out of the house {if the day calls for it}.  Currently Friday is her big Music Class day.  As summer approaches we will be adding Gym Class on Wednesdays and moving Music Class to Mondays.  I can hardly wait to see this little gal at gym...I predict love.

If we are at home during this time {which is often for her}, she enjoys outdoor walks {now in the red push car}, emptying baskets of toys, her playmat {in the upright position},  swinging outside on the playset,  eating board books, throwing anything and everything she can get her chubby little hands on, and tummy time.  I've never had baby who liked tummy time like this little one does.  Jack tolerated it, Maggie hated it, and Lucy actually enjoys it.

So where is my crawler you may wonder?  I certainly wonder.  Lucy is trying her hardest {which is more than I can say for her perfectly content sitting still big sister at this age}.  Lu really wants to go.  And I mean really.  She is scootching, wiggling, laying forward, and getting on all fours {when on a rug or in her bed}, but she still doesn't quite have the umph to get going.  She's a strong little babe though.  Her DR is still amazed by her strength and perfectly good strangers comment on it.  Until then we just keep on practicing....maybe by my next 'I Love Lucy' update??

Post afternoon nap, Lucy is usually awake again for another two hours before her p.m. catnap.  During this time we are either running Jack to one of his afternoon activities i.e karate, baseball, swim or happily relaxing at home.  Lucy seems to really enjoy this time because both kids are home and awake and Daddy is getting home from work.  The house is bustling...just how Lucy prefers it.

We have some sibling play time and then I prep for dinner.  This has also been deemed as Lucy's "Jump-a- Roo" time {another apparatus she could easily be placed in often so we have limited it to this part of the day}.  She is a maniac in that thing.  I get the biggest kicks watching her chunky legs go to town and she gets a kick being the star of the show.

After her catnap {which yes, she is still taking} we are off to the tub.  Lucy has graduated from the baby tub and now sits like a big girl with Maggie.  She scootches up and down the tub weaving back and forth between Maggie and all the toys.  My littlest Lu loves a good bath.  We follow it with books, pjs and a bottle and say goodnight to a long day of activities.  And as easy as that sounds she is like wrestling a wild alligator all the way to the crib.  There doesn't seem to be any real wind down to her evening. It's literally 60 to 0 and then thankfully she's out like a light.

Although Lucy is a sitting baby she is a sitting baby on the go during her wake time.  I look forward and fear the day she actually has the means to move.

Sleep

At our house a go-go baby generally means a good sleeper.  And that she is.  I might have nearly as much energy as she does if I slept like her.

Lucy is still taking three naps a day.  Three good solid naps.  Oh, the life of a babe.

Her morning nap is about two hours.  Her afternoon nap is another two hours. And then we have a catnap of about 45 min in the evening.

Lucy is clinging on to that catnap for dear life.  I have experimented with taking it away after a few possible ready signs from her, but I quickly learned she isn't there yet.  She survives, but she thrives when she gets it.  So with that knowledge what can I do but let her have an evening snooze. It doesn't interfere with her night time sleep so here we sit in nap jail.

Her night time sleep is still a nice 12 hours often 13.  Then she wakes hungry and with a smile intermittent with some glorious circus tricks in her bed.  We have already lowered her crib once and I imagine we will be doing it again here soon.

Growing Up Out

With all that eating and sleeping Little Lu is bound to be doing some growing too.

Her actual 9 month well visit with her pediatrician isn't for a couple of days.  I am anxiously awaiting to get some updated stats on this one.  But I certainly have some predications.

At our last visit I had a long and lean baby.  That totally threw me for a loop.  No Cibula baby has ever fit that description.  But, here recently LuLu has plumped up.  She is wide and chunky....and dimply and squishy...and oh, so yummy.

She easily wears 12 month clothing and I don't even know if that will get us through the summer.  Some articles are already pushing the boundary especially around her scrumptious thighs and bulging belly.  We are in a size 3 diaper with very little  room to grow.

She seems to carry most of her weight in those incredible thighs of hers.  Don't get me wrong they are absolutely delicious, but they have busted a few size 12m pajama zippers here recently.  I am anxiously awaiting to get that volumptious figure of hers into a bathing suit.  Won't that be mouth watering?

So her weight isn't the only thing growing.  Lucy continues to get more hair and from what I can tell it is continuing to get lighter.  The verdict is still out on the color.

She is also teething like crazy.  The count is still at two, but I am so ready for these next few to cut {as I'm sure she is}.  She has been sporting some serious drool and a not so lovely runny nose.  I've even noticed a slight hint of moodiness here lately.  My poor baby.  And if she wasn't already infamous for putting everything in her mouth you should see her now.  I finally invested in a pair of Chew Beads {great invention, but I was so trying to hold out since Lu is my third and last}.  I caved after she almost  swallowed a necklace or two of mine.

All in all, Lucy is still as fabulous as ever.  We've just added fabulously busy to that list.

I have received more comments here recently while we've been out and about that resemble something like this, "what a busy baby she is".  I must note that always follows a comment about her absolute preciousness or divine beauty.  So our Lucy is officially beautiful and busy.  I'd like to translate busy as 'extremely intelligent'.  I'm her mother so I think I have a free pass to do that.

As always I am anticipating what the next month holds.  And I am, oh so, thrilled to have the summer to watch it all unfold with both of her bigs by my side.

Happy 9 Months to our cherry on top...our littlest Lu...our super baby...and most recently our beautifully busy baby.

We love you Lucy!  Every day with you is full of excitement and many many smiles.

Wrapping It Up...For Maggie

Just as I promised, things have picked up around here this week.  We are closing out school years and activities and getting ready for a much anticipated summer.

First up, my darling Magpie.

We said goodbye to an ahhhhhmazing year in her two year old preschool class.  I couldn't have asked for more in the way of teachers during this year of many transitions.  My dearest Maggie was at the receiving end of most of those.  She lost her big brother {allll day} to big kid school and then often felt like she was losing her Mommy to a new baby sister.  Add in the other unexpecteds this year and it's easy to see this little one went through a lot.

But, with lots and lots of Mommy love and a fabulous school year she persevered.  And in true Maggie fashion, she is shining as bright as she ever has.

For this end of the school year party we went for the usual beachy summer theme.  Can't get too crazily creative with a bunch of three year olds.  I was one of the party Moms.  I must of thought I was really going to have it all together by Christmas, because I signed up for EVERYTHING from December on at that initial Open House night.  What was I thinking?

I will surely never regret it though.  Love being there with my sweet girl.  And I'm pretty sure she loves me being there.

We started off with some summer fare complete with paperware to match the theme.  {please note how Maggie requests that her string cheese be pulled apart to resemble an octopus...always, not just at beach related shindigs}

We then headed outside {with 12 toddlers} for the "craft" and games.  The kids decorated their beach pails with ocean stickers.  And inside the pails were cutsie lais, sunglasses, and bubbles.  And although Maggie chose to forgo her lai, she would not part with this purple tutu.  It was not part of her original ensemble.  But as we were leaving for school, she declared she needed it "in case my best fwend wears hers".

Maggie spent 90% of her time doing the sidewalk chalk.  I was just waiting for her to hit the parking lot with it in hand.  {you know how we love chalking up our street at home}

And this is Maggie's "best fwend", Elise....who indeed did wear a tutu to school.

As we say goodbye to another year, we also say goodbye to this amazing lady, Ms. Becky, and her equally amazing aid, Ms. Cheryl.  Kudos and giant XOXOs to her for making Maggie feel like a Princess every Tuesday and Thursday.

Please excuse Maggie's grimace.  She had a slight tumble on the sidewalk which warranted nothing but a brush off.  Oh, but my little drama queen felt it deserved so much more.  So sweet Ms. Becky scooped Maggie up, took her inside and gave her lots of love along with a pink and purple bandaid.  I insisted she was fine, but Ms. Becky said, "I only have 10 more minutes with her, please let me dote on her one last time".  Told you she was fabulous.  Lucky little Maggie.

Next we have Jack's Wrap Up.  And then it's time for glorious summer.  This family is waiting with bated breath...

Mommy's Day

There is nothing stronger than a Mother's love.  And there is nothing sweeter than being loved back and honored.

When my precious cutie pies showered me with snuggles, love, and kisses this Mother's Day I could have called it a day {especially after the turbulent preceding "M" day} .  Honestly, there was nothing else I could have asked for...I adore my trio.  But they lovingly had more in store...

From Maggie: a too cute bag to "put lots of fings in" {straight from the mouth of my darling 3 year old}.  I don't know about you, but this took me a second.  At first glance, I was like, 'a L and an E'?...huh?  Then I got it.  Oh...LOVE, duh...made by her sweet little hands and tootsies.

And from Jack:  this melt my heart letter {good thing it's not his heart melting because it seems I'm in the middle of it} and these thoughtful coupons.  My favorite being, "help Maggie git dresd".  I'm sure his teacher questioned the possibility of slave labor going on in our house.  But, in true Jack fashion, he is always there to take on Daddy's role or give me a helping hand with his littles.  Amazing, isn't he?

Excuse my slightly sentimental side, but I have been adoring my little ones lately. Not that I don't always, but the past few weeks have offered moments of regrouping and spending quality time with one another.  I found this years Mother's Day to be our culminating event.

And how could I not be sentimental.  Look at all I have been blessed with...three healthy happy children.  And for the most part...pretty perfect.

I am amazed on a daily basis how much these three love one another.  There is no greater gift Clay and I could have given them than one another.

To the one who made me a Mother for the first time...I love you Jack!

And to the one who has shown me the joys {and drama} of having a girl...I love you Maggie!

And to my cherry on top, my little fire cracker, and our Super Baby...I love you Lucy!

And to my Mother, thank you for all you do for us, thank you for loving my little ones like none other,  and thank you for being just down the road to celebrate the big days and the every days with us.  We love you!

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful Mommy's out there who inspire, support, and celebrate all that comes with the job.  Aren't we so lucky...and so so tired!

Nothing

Maybe you are wondering what we have been up to.  Or maybe you're not.  But, it has been a good week since I've last posted on the blog.  And the reason for that is because there really has been "nothing" going on.  Glorious Nothing.

For the first time in over a year, I can say nothing.  With a giant smile.  No construction, no pregnancy, no sleepless newborn nights, no transition into Kindergarten, no traveling, no heart wrenching loss of family members, no sprained ankle {that was me, nice huh?}, no wondering if I will survive another month, week, day of this.  Just nothing.

Now, don't get me wrong,  it's all relative.  Our "nothing" is still a lot of somethings.  But it's our normal busy life.  The one I have grown to appreciate after the past year {most especially the past 5 months}.

We've spent the last two weeks at home.  No suitcases, no baseball {mainly due to rain}, no homework, no running around like crazy just trying to play catch up. We even took a little break from karate {but only because Jack has joined the neighborhood swim team}.  But, even with that, it's been so peaceful. Again, it's all relative.

Our days have been spent playing in the driveway, taking walks with various wheeled apparatus, having friends over, lots of board games {Jack's new favorite being Sorry}, reading books, playing tag in the backyard, taking umbrellas in Mommy's shower, eating popsicles, and even playing in the sink.

 This has been no lesson in life for me.  I realized a long time ago that the "nothings" are so much more than that.  It's the mundane experiences that make life with my children so fulfilling.  I have just enjoyed having them back more than I ever have over these past weeks.

And I know I'm not the only one.  Jack proclaimed, over a home cooked meal {which was sadly becoming rare for about 3 months there}, "this has been one of the best weeks of my life".  That was after a week of "nothing".  Pretty amazing if you ask me.

The next few weeks we will be taking it up a notch again.  It's time to close out our season...school, sports, etc.  But happily we will be welcoming summer and all the "nothing" it has to offer.

I love our "it's all relative" nothing.