March Review

Most months seem to pass very quickly, but March has seemed to go by a bit slower. In fact, when I think about what we've done, the events from the beginning of the month seem like they were a long time ago!

Annaliese at the park...taking advantage of a break in the rainy weather!

I love her hair! 

Trying some avocado for the first time!

Haleigh and Cole...I think they spent most of their playdate eating snacks!

Cole was very excited to hold Lydia!

Kyle sent me this picture one night while I was at work...such cuties!

Annaliese wrote out our grocery list and then we sent it to Kyle so he could stop at the store for us!

The newest member of the family

We've talked on and off over the past few months about getting a dog and have been keeping an eye on the dogs available from the local shelters and dog rescue places. It was a much more involved process than we anticipated because most of the dogs are kept in foster homes so you can't go meet them until after an application has been submitted and you've been selected. I've lost track of how many different dogs we've inquired about, but finally last weekend we were selected to go meet a cute little 4 month old Cocker Spaniel/Border Collie mix.

At first, Shelby was pretty timid and almost boring...she didn't seem to like to go outside and wouldn't play at all. Now, after being here for the week, she has become much more friendly and playful. We have made significant progress in the potty training department and have started working on simple commands like 'sit' and 'come' and leash training.

Haleigh and Annaliese love her! In fact, they spent several hours outside playing with her yesterday! Lydia is still a bit unsure, but I can't say I blame her! They are about the same size and Shelby has a tendency to get right in Lydia's face!!

Haleigh is 3!

Haleigh is three!! Although if you ask her, she will probably tell you that she is two. Or maybe five! She makes a pretty cute little three year old but her strong-willed, independent self is showing itself more and more! The majority of the time, Haleigh is happy, smiling, and more than willing to help out and have a good time. She has an amazing smile, an even better laugh and is always ready to give a big hug! She is just so much fun!!

She is quite the talker, and will frequently fill us in on whatever anybody is doing. She is very observant and likes to ask why people are doing the things they are doing. She has also started singing. A lot. I think she gets it from Annaliese. In fact, she sang 'Old MacDonald had a Farm' for about 30 minutes of our run this morning! 

On the morning of her birthday, she and Annaliese were supposed to be getting ready when I heard Haleigh start crying. She came to me, very upset, and said, "Annaliese just pushed me and I'm the birthday girl so I should get to use the stool first."

A few phrases she uses all the time include: 'actually,' 'I can't know how,' and 'whoopsie-doo.'

Favorite activities include playing tea party, eating snacks, coloring, reading stories to Lydia and holding Lydia, and sitting on the counter to help with dinner. She can count to 10 (and sometimes higher,) would eat peanut butter sandwiches and yogurt for every meal if she could, and loves to wear panties but has never actually used the potty. She likes to play with Annaliese and do whatever she is doing, but when Annaliese isn't home, Haleigh is very good at playing on her own! Haleigh still naps in the afternoon for about 2 hours and sleeps at night from 7:30-6:45ish. She typically wakes up a little bit before Annaliese does. She still sleeps with her purple bunny, which has come apart and is now in two pieces, and she needs both pieces at all times when in bed! 

Helping to make her birthday cake!

I told them to freeze so I could take a picture!

Haleigh is currently in 3T clothes and size 7 shoes. She is very particular about her outfits and prefers to not wear pants. However, she loves to have socks and shoes on!

We had Haleigh's 3-yr well check at the doctor this morning. As we got out of the car, she said to me, "I'm so excited to be at the doctor! Can I get a sticker?" The asked her a lot of questions and she answered most of them correctly. She demonstrated how to stand on one leg, how to draw a circle, and sang her favorite song (Jesus Loves Me.)

Getting measured at the doctor

The rest of the birthday weekend...

Grandpa and Grandma both have March birthdays so we decided to have a birthday dinner for them on Saturday night since we were all around and in the partying mood already! After Haleigh's party, we did a quick clean-up, Kyle made it to the gym for a bit and I was able to get in a short run before we packed up and headed to Kim and Thane's house for dinner. 

Grandpa playing with Haleigh and Mallory

Lydia and Auntie Kelsey

Grandma and Owen 

Haleigh and Lydia playing together!

Grandpa received lots of gardening stuff and Grandma was given new things for biking!

We made Grandpa Coconut Creme Pie Bars and Grandma a Peanut Butter Pie topped with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups! 

Birthday Fun!

Haleigh's birthday was Tuesday, March 7, and unfortunately I had to work. But since Kyle is such a cool dad, he picked up a birthday balloon, a new ball for outside, some chocolate for dessert and let Haleigh decide what to have for dinner! (She picked pizza!)

On Thursday evening when we were all home, she opened her presents from Gigi and Papa, Auntie Sarah and Uncle Jon, and Auntie Laurie and Uncle Peter. She is so spoiled! Thank you!

A battery powered train engine! 

Dora light-up shoes!

Saturday morning we had her birthday party. Haleigh was pretty certain that she wanted a Dora birthday party this year, so that is what we went with. I found a few decorations that I could print, we had a taco bar and the few games I had planned the kids didn't want to play! Most of Haleigh's friends have siblings Annaliese's age so everyone had friends to play with and everyone seemed to have a good time!

She requested a cake with sprinkles...and she was very excited at the grocery store when she was allowed to pick any color cake and whatever sprinkles she wanted!! 

Grandpa...as Boots

Elias...as Swiper

Annaliese...as Dora

Haleigh...as Boots

Grandpa and Grandma with Owen and Lydia. They may be three months apart but he is just as big as she is!