Guess Who's Four Months Old Today!

Melanie is now four months old today!! She had her 4 month checkup yesterday. She is 16 lbs. 8 oz. and 25 1/2 inches long. Her head is now 17 inches, but still not as big as Anne's was when she was born (18 inches)!! :) She has started putting her hands in her mouth and is starting to grasp objects. She also "talks" quite a bit. I think she already knows that she's going to have to start talking now to be heard with two other sisters! :)

Melanie is definitely a Mommy's girl! Andy kept her for me while I went grocery shopping this afternoon. He's home recovering from gall bladder surgery, but returns to work on Monday. Then this evening she was in the nursery while I was in choir practice. When we got home Andy gave her a bottle so that I could eat dinner. She hadn't had a nap all evening, and I think she spent the whole time in the nursery crying. I thought she would have fallen asleep while drinking her last bottle, but I guess she just wanted to make sure she spent some quality time with Mommy. I put her on my lap and she started talking quite a bit inspite of how tired she was. So I took the opportunity to video her babbling. Needless to say, as soon as I put her on my shoulder she was out!!

Just Making Some Comparisons!

It's just now midnight, and I should be in bed already. Unfortunately late night is the only time I have to myself right now. Anyway, I was procrastinating going to bed by looking through pictures on my laptop, and I came across these similar pictures. It's always amazing how fast babies grow. She is now getting into 6-9 month clothes. They are a little long in the sleeves, but great in the length. Melanie is starting to try to reach out and grasp things, laugh, and make more sounds. She'll have her next well baby check up next week.

The first picture was taken just days after she was born. She was asleep in the pack-n-play in the sunporch because she was slightly jaundiced. The second picture was taken around the 3.5 month mark while she slept in her crib. She sleeps on her belly the best.

Isn't He Beautiful!!

I guess since Andy is surrounded by girls, he might as well be one!! LOL!! Anne and Naomi had fun beautifying Andy with all the clips and barretts they could find. Poor Andy. They say that you become a product of your environment. Since Andy lives in a house full of females (even the cat!) I guess it was just a matter of time. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Melanie's New Best Friend

Melanie has finally managed to get her fist into her mouth! This is something she's been working on for the past few days. Thankfully she has never sucked her thumb--not that we would let her. :) I'm sure it won't be long before she is putting other things in her mouth. Right now I'm happy it's just her fist. :)

Calgon story update: All is well in our house once again. Anne ended up getting the flu a couple of days after Naomi. Now we just have some lingering coughs, but that is mild compared to what they went through this past week. I'm so thankful that Melanie and I never got sick! God is good! Now we just have to get through Andy's gall bladder issues. Thankfully he hasn't had anymore attacks. He has a consultation with a Dr. on Feb. 12 about gall bladder surgery. I hear that the gall bladder is the new appendix! LOL!

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

We are getting our first snow of the season!! We are thrilled, and the girls would love to go outside in it. Since they have been sick I'm not letting them go out today. Naomi is doing much better, but Anne threw up again this morning. She seems to be feeling better now and hopefully will continue to.

Falling snow is always so pretty. I shot this short video from our front door. I have to give credit to Andy. It was his idea that I video the snow and put it on the blog.

Hey Emily! You Got Any More Calgon!!!

Okay, here's my Calgon story. The flu has hit our family this year. Andy first came down with it Thursday night starting with a fever. Friday morning he felt terrible, but went to work for 1/2 a day because of a scheduled conference call he couldn't reschedule easily. He came home that afternoon sick, sick, sick. He tried everything over the counter to no avail. Of course with it being the weekend the clinic wasn't open.

Then Naomi came down with a fever of about 101 Sunday morning. So, she was given Tylenol. Much to her chagrin Anne, Melanie, and I headed off to church leaving the sick ones at home. Neither Andy or Noami had much of an appetite.

Now today is Monday. Andy is still as sick as a dog, and Naomi's fever is 102. So, a call was made to the clinic ASAP, but couldn't get them in until 4pm. Finally, 3:30 arrived--time to leave for appts. and gymnastics. First drop off Andy and Naomi at the clinic. Then head over to gymnastics for Anne's class. Fed Melanie a bottle after Anne's class started. At about 4:20 I got a call from Andy letting me know they were done and needed to be picked up. So, off to pick them up. Next to Wal-Mart to drop off prescriptions. Then back to gymnastics to pick up Anne. Then took everyone home. Then back to Siloam for a weight loss class that I have joined. Only now I have Melanie with me because Andy can't take care of her. If Melanie gets sick our only option is the emergency room! Thankfully, mom is also taking the same class at 5pm, and I take the class at 6pm. So, I called mom to see if she could take care of Melanie for me during my class. Thankfully she could!! I only stayed to weigh in and measure body fat. After that I was off to Wal-Mart to pick up prescriptions. Then to Subway for dinner for Anne and I--I was not cooking after all of this! Finally home!!! Unfortunately now Naomi is throwing up!! CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!!!

But hey! At my weigh in I lost three pounds this past week!! Woohoo!

If anyone else has a good Calgon story make sure to click on the "comments" at the end of this post and let me know about it. I'd love to hear it!

Fire Station Field Trip!

The girls got to go to the Fire Station in Siloam Springs this afternoon. The elementary coordinator for the homeschool group had arranged for only one time for 60 kids, but since there was such an overwhelming response had to arrange a second time. The girls had a good time. Naomi didn't want to go through the ambulance, but later went through the cab of the ladder truck. Since the trucks were inside the station they didn't turn on the sirens, but they did turn on the lights for the kids.

Anne going through the ambulance.

The girls by the ladder truck.

Fire fighter Naomi!

This is the group we toured the fire station with. The morning group had as many kids!

We were able to tour through the station as well to see the pole the fire fighter slid down, where they slept, the kitchen, etc. It was the newest station that Siloam had built, and I was impressed with how nice it was. On the way home from the field trip the girls and I were able to discuss a fire plan for our own home. I'm really glad we had the chance to go in spite of how cold it was outside. :)