Big Girl Charts!

Audrey had her 4 month well-baby visit this morning. Like Natalie did last week, she wowed them with her progress for her age. While she's 4 months old they were only looking for her to have 2-month-old capabilities. However, she has hit nearly all the 4-month-old milestones. (Still outstanding are rolling over and better neck control/muscles). And the best part is that she's finally ranking on the regular (non-preemie) growth charts!

Here's how she ranked.
10 lb 6 oz - 2% (this is only 1 lb less than Natalie weighed at 4 months!)
22 1/4 in - 2%
38.7 cm head circumference - 3%

So while she's still tiny, her growth rate is wonderful and they couldn't have been happier with her.

Cheese!

Thanks to a great Groupon deal for Picture People we had some photos taken this weekend. The package included a lot of prints of the family shot so let us know if you'd like one!

2 Year Well-Child Visit

These used to be called well-baby visits but our biggest girl is certainly not a baby anymore which she proved today by wowing the socks off our pediatrician. The doctor told us that Natalie was already doing nearly everything they look for 3-year-olds to do (name her colors, letters, and shapes, count to 10, speak in full sentences, jump and take both feet off the ground, know her name and where she lives) and as a bonus, Natalie can also spell her name already! (I credit a puzzle we gave her for Christmas. I highly recommend these to anyone with toddlers.)

In true Natalie fashion, her head percentile stole the spotlight.
Weight - 23.8 lbs (14%)
Height - 32.5 in (17%)
Head circumference - 49 cm (86%)

And, bless her heart, Audrey was so well-behaved while we sat around as they ran behind.

What a couple of remarkable girls!

The Week in Pictures

These pictures don't go together at all but we've gotten lots of random cute ones recently.

Audrey showing Daddy and Natalie how to have fun with her new playmat.

We may have a thumb sucker on our hands! She figured this out all on her own.

Loving the new dress up clothes - Thanks, Holley clan!

The girls together today.

Have a great week, everyone!

Easter Family Pic

I finally copied the pictures we took at Easter from Linda's camera.

2!

Our big girl is officially 2! On Wednesday she woke up to a Deschane tradition - birthday balloons on her ceiling, and a Holley tradition - birthday door sign.

That afternoon she got to hunt and open many more wonderful presents from family and friends.

Our little Princess train lover.

The Princess requested pizza for her birthday dinner.

Then got to eat it at her special new princess table.

Cake too, of course.

She was especially glad Daddy was able to come home early from work for her birthday.

And while this pic isn't from Wed. (it's from Thurs.) we have to thank her friends who gave her bubbles. She loves them!

Happy 2nd, Natalie!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Skittle!

Time flies! We celebrated Natalie's birthday, again at the cabin. No snow this year - but it was the first two days that actually felt like spring!

Skittle got her first taste of a Deschane family tradition: her presents were hidden around the cabin and she had to track them down:

She found them all WAY too quickly - guess we have to step it up next year!

Wrapping paper didn't stand a chance...

Luckily Grandma was around to read some of the new books (and provide a steady supply of Treat Milk!)

Ama & Bapa got Natalie her first bike - with the look on her face, the requests for a convertible won't be far away!

So lately Skittle's been very into trains - Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. She reads the books, watches the show, has a little scale model, and despite Mom's worries that trains aren't "girly enough" (don't worry about that - just ask about Natalie's Fancy Shoes), Natalie couldn't contain herself after seeing/trying a few of her other presents...

Erin, being the incredible mother that she is, made the fantastic cake below:

I think all of Natalie's wishes came true; who can say what she wishes for next year?

Birthday dinner was spaghetti, just like last year; good to know some things never change! This girl is a wonder to watch, and we're lucky parents to have her. Who wouldn't love this smile?

Cabin Weekend

So while we celebrated Natalie's 2nd Birthday and Mother's Day this weekend, we also got to spend some family time at the cabin.

Natalie captained the canoe around Balsam Lake with Daddy & Bapa a few times:

And at Aunt Julie & Uncle Dave's house Natalie got to try out jumping on a trampoline:

Audrey, meanwhile, made some friends and practiced her smiles:

And went duck hunting: