Last month Allie and AJ celebrated their 3rd birthday! We decided to have 2 parties this year in an effort to enjoy everyone's company more than we have in the past. It turned out really well. On Saturday we had a party at my parent's house with family and some of our friends. Then on Monday evening we had a neighborhood party.
This year, Allie wanted a princess party and AJ wanted either a race car party or a monster truck party. This made it hard to do a "theme" so I ended up making Allie a princess cake and AJ a Lightening McQueen cake. They LOVED the cakes and were so excited about them. I remember being so excited for the cakes my mom would make us as kids for our birthdays and it makes me happy to be able to carry on this tradition with my own kids.
All AJ really wanted for his birthday was a big, blue monster truck and all Allie wanted was princess stuff. Nana and Papa got them both what they wanted and along with everything from Uncles and friends, they have been in heaven this past week! Alberto and I decided to get them bikes for their birthdays. I was a little worried that they wouldn't be as excited as we were, but they both love their bikes and are doing so well at riding them. They even love wearing their helmets.
Turning 3 has been a bitter-sweet experience for me as the mommy. I am not going to lie, it has been challenging to deal with them the last few months. However, the other night as I worked on their cakes, AJ was sitting by me on the counter and Alberto was playing music. I looked over at AJ and he said, "Mom, this is my song." I laughed a little and then went back to coloring frosting. A few seconds later, I looked at him again and he had grabbed a beater and was using it as a microphone rocking out to "his song." It was so darn cute and I realized in that moment, I love this age!! They are SO funny and imaginative. Yes, we have our moments, but overall Allie and AJ are the cutest, most fun kids on the planet and I am endlessly grateful that they are mine (ours).
Allie-Has become a princess. She loves to dress up and is so happy to finally have her own dress up clothes, shoes and jewelry (thanks everyone)!
She loves to look at herself in the mirror and watch her face as she talks and makes faces.
Loves "helping" me...whether it is holding Anna, singing to her, taking diapers to the trash, carrying around the baby lotion, making cookies, putting on my make-up or folding laundry, I can always count on Allie.
Has an awesome memory. She knows many songs and has even memorized some commercials on both from the TV and the radio. She is learning her letter sounds and is really picking up on Portuguese words very quickly.
Wants to wear a dress everyday.
Needs a lot of attention and gets a little jealous of baby Anna, but luckily she is always nice to Anna.
Still sucks her thumb, but I just don't have the heart to nag her about it yet.
Still has super curly hair. It is getting so long...She sure is beautiful.
Loves seeing girls in wedding dresses and loves to talk about dancing in a wedding dress. If you ask her who she is going to marry, she says "AJ".
Likes Taylor Swift and can recognize her voice even when she doesn't know the song.
Loves her froggy jammies. When she grew out of her first pair, she asked for them for months. Luckily we found two different pairs at Costco so she has plenty of froggy jammies to last her through the winter.
Likes to dance around and is beginning to experiment with new dance moves.
Says, "What ever you say Mom." and "I just wanna play for 1 more minute"...all the time.
Is quick to throw a fit if she thinks there is even a small chance things aren't going to go her way.
Has started to give explainations for not listening, "Because I just need to do this."
AJ-Can't get enough trucks, cars, motorcycles...anything that goes.
Likes talking sports with daddy.
Will ask people to play with him. I think it is the cutest thing, "Hey, Hey Daddy, you wanna play football with me?"
Loves his puppy and carries it all over the house. It's ear fell off yesterday because he rubs the ears between his fingers to fall asleep. He recently named it Brinkley, after Nana and Papa's dog.
He HATES hair!! If he gets a hair on him or if my hair touches him, he gets all upset and grossed out. It is really funny.
Is a snack-aholic lately. Asks for snacks all day long. If he sees someone eating he asks, "Hey, what are you eating?" or says, "Hey mom, open up."
Is very aware of "boy" stuff and "girl" stuff. He really likes to be around daddy, uncles and Papa.
Can make Anna laugh more than anyone else. She loves him.
Loves to point out when he is being "a nice boy" or "listening" when I am mad at Allie for not doing these things, "Mom, I'm being a nice boy."
Still loves to tease Allie.
Doesn't like when Allie is in time out. He always asks me to let her out.
Is really good about smiling for pictures.
Always wants to go to Nana and Papa's house.
Anna-At her 4-month appointment she was nearly 16 pounds and measured 27.5 inches. She is so tall that the nurse re-measured twice and Dr. Kaddu even asked me if I thought they measured correctly. I love having tall girls!!
She continues to look months older than she is.
Is the most pleasant baby you could imagine.
Has started screaming!
Started saying "Ba-ba-ba" and "Da-da, ba-ba" in the last few days. She only says it when she is tired or hungry.
Loves to watch Allie and AJ; especially AJ.
Is becoming very distracted by all sorts of things...
Can roll over both ways, but for some reason won't roll from her belly to back lately. She just gets all mad after being on her belly a while.
Likes to "sit-up" and look around.
Is taking more and more interest in toys.
Has gotten over her obsession with her hands and is now OBSESSED with her feet. She loves to suck on her toes any chance she gets.
Still has a ton of hair.
Gets a lot of attention when we are out and about. She is a total entertainer.
