Happy Birthday Alexis!!

As I sit here and look out the window watching the snow fall, I remember back 3 years ago when my life changed.  The day Alexis came was the most amazing day I can ever remember.  I didn't know what was about to happen but now I cannot imagine life without her.  I know I'm supposed to be teaching her but I think she has taught me more than ever.  She is the sweetest, most caring little girl.  She is smart, loving and really funny!  Happy 3rd Birthday Alexis Leann!!!  

Her birthday was actually on Monday.  After I got off work, we went to Olive Garden to celebrate!

Ever since Andrew's birthday last August, she has been asking when her birthday party is going to be.

This weekend is her big party... it's finally here!  She is most excited about the cake!  She hasn't asked for any presents... just a yellow barbie cake!  At first it was pink, but now she wants yellow!  I hope she likes it!

~~~~~~~~At 3 years old, she:

***is fully potty trained

***is very particular about what she wears.  She refuses to wear long sleeve shirts. She refuses to wear her coat in the car.  Her socks can't be pulled up too far.  I let her pick out her clothes every morning because I know that she is just going to change them anyway.  I know it's only going to get harder!

***loves to play matching games, puzzles and draw

***can turn on the computer and use the mouse to start YouTube by herself... one of her favorite ones to watch right now is Looney Tunes

***is pretty picky about what she eats.  What she does love is chocolate, donuts and anything sweet!!!

***is wearing mostly 3T clothes even though some pants are too loose around the waist because she's so tiny

***weighs around 28 lbs.  I think she's grown a couple inches in just this past week because she can now reach the light switch in her and Andrew's room and she couldn't just last week!!

***loves watching The Lion King, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Tinkerbell movies

***is becoming more independent.  She has to do everything "by myself!"

***is talking like crazy!  

***is shy around new people but is starting to warm up quicker

Everyday is an adventure and I can't wait for what's to come!!

growing up so fast!!!

Last week, Alexis started a new class at the Park District.  I thought it would be good for her to play with some kids her age, get out of the house and jump around at gymnastics (instead of on the couch!)  I took her to class and Albert stayed home with Andrew.  As soon as we walked in, I noticed that all the parents were saying bye to their child and leaving.  I was not prepared for this as I thought the parents stayed for the class like the other classes she had been in.  My heart started beating a little faster as I walked over to the teacher and asked if the kids stayed by themselves.  She said yes and I didn't know what to do.  I told the teacher that this would be the first time Alexis would be in this situation.  She has never had a babysitter except for Grandparents a handful of times and Christina.  I left my phone number and snuck out of the classroom.  By this time, I was the last parent to leave.  I peeked in the little window on the door and Alexis was sitting at a table playing with play-doh.  As I drove home, I have all kinds of visions in my head.  I was pretty sure she would be crying and screaming by now.  That hour and a half seemed like 8 hours!!  I was so excited to go pick her up.  She walked out of the class with a big smile on her face and the teacher said she did great!  NO tears!!  She is growing up so fast!!!  This week we are registering her for preschool-- to start this fall!

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I'm a little behind on updates and getting pictures posted.  Here's some from the past couple of weeks.  The kids have kept busy playing with their Christmas presents, baking cakes and watching movies.  They were watching the Tinkerbell movie Grandma and Papa gave them for Christmas everyday until they caught a glimpse of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on TV one day.  Alexis started watching clips of the movie on YouTube so I bought it and now it's their favorite!  Andrew dances around the house singing "Boompa boompa ba ba ba!"  over and over again all day long!!  Alexis's favorite part is when Violet turns into a blueberry!  I can't wait until Halloween because Andrew would make an awesome Oompa Loompa!! :)

Sprinkles help everything taste better!!

Pretending to be babies-- they "cried" until i would pick them up and sing to them!

snow white underwear!!

She'll do anything for M&Ms!

my official taste taster

wearing Grandma's slippers

poor little guy got stuck

making her princesses "exercise"

teaching them how to do push-ups

crazy hair!!

Alexis has been asking for a Barbie cake for over 2 months.  Everyday she says, "My birthday is coming up!"  I watched the video on YouTube that she has been watching on how to make one and we tried it out over the weekend.  Here is my 1st attempt!

she loved the frosting.... of course!

my little artist

For about a week now, Alexis has been refusing to take a nap. I do everything I can to try to get her to (mostly because I want to nap too!) but she just won't go to sleep! So today we colored and drew pictures. She shocked me this morning in the bath tub when she drew a face. It was the 1st time I had ever seen her draw something that I could actually tell what it was! I was quite impressed. So this afternoon, while we she should have been sleeping, we spent a good hour drawing. I don't know if it's because I'm her mom and biased but I couldn't believe how well she was doing. I wasn't helping or coaching her at all!


Here's her coloring in the bath tub with her new bath crayons!

Here's a few pictures of her artwork that I now have hanging on the refrigerator :)

a self portrait :)

this one's Andrew

this one is me

this is Aldo (or Uncle Arnold-- as she calls him!)

and this one is a rabbit!