I can't get enough of the girls' costumes this year. Ava went as Madeline and Perla as her sidekick, Miss Clavel. I made both costumes and I'm just going to say, I'm pretty darn proud of how they turned out. We Trick-or-Treated with the Tamala's, AB, and Aunt Krissy and Uncle Jack in their neighborhood in north Phoenix; we did one lap around the block and the kids were spent about 3/4 way through. Ava asked for a single sucker upon returning home, and promptly forgot about the remaining candy (which I then picked through and sent the rest to work with Mike). Dodged a bullet with that one! (Also, I am so in love with Perla's grumpy face in these photos.)

Just some pictures of my babes being cute hanging out.

Wow, these photos of the girls (more specifically, Perla) with our delivering midwives are beyond overdue. Silly us never took photos of brand new baby girl with either Nichelle or Mary after her birth. Add to that the constan forgetting to stop for a visit and here we are, almost five months later, at the Blossom Anniversary Reunion. Better late than never!

There was a bouncy house, tons of food, music, cotton candy, face painting...Ava had a blast, and everyone was so excited to see Perla and how much she's grown. It was Blossom's First Birthday and can you believe they've delivered 74 babies in the last year! What wonderful news for such a beautiful place. I am so happy to see it growing with the love and compassion of all whom enter.

Dear Girlies,

Yesterday we ventured to the Macdonald Farm in Scottsdale with a bunch of the McCurley clan. (Sadly, I didn't really get pictures of anyone!) We took a hayride to the "pumpkin patch", where Ava picked out pumpkins for the both of you. They're small and have a bit of a stem, which I love. It was busy and quite hot outside so we didn't stay too long, but we had a good time. (Also, I didn't get a photo of the two of you together, either. Really, I need to get better at that.)

Love yous,

mama

four months

Sweet Perla,

Today you're four months old. Four months! I really can't believe I don't write monthly letters for you and your sister. Sometimes I feel guilty and think I'm a bad mom because of it.

You're sitting here beside me in your swing as I type this, smiling and giggling hysterically every couple of minutes when I look over and pop my mouth at you. I can't put into words how much joy you've brought into our lives. You're always smiling, laughing, kicking your legs and flailing your arms. You're dying to sit up, and you're this close to rolling over. Actually, you've rolled over once each front-to-back and back-to-front, but it's been a few days and you haven't done it since, so we're thinking it was a fluke. Either way, it's going to be soon and I'm cherishing these last days I have with you as the little blob you are. Because before we know it you'll be crawling then walking then running and soon enough I won't be able to hold and cuddle you as I'm able to now. It amazes me how fast you babies grow and I wish that somedays I could slow time and take your baby deliciousness in just a little bit more.

Your birthmark has faded noticeably in the last few weeks and to be honest we're a little sad! On the contrary, your entire appearance has brightened. I remember this stage with Ava; it seemed overnight she went from newborn to chubby rosy-cheeked cherub. You're here now and your eyes are brighter, dimples deeper, gummy smile wider. I truly can't get enough of you. Your demeanor is so calming and sweet, everywhere we go people notice how mellow you are. It's true, you're an angel! We take you everywhere without any fuss.

You're working on cutting some teeth, though we don't see any buds under those gums yet which means we're probably in for the long haul. You're always chewing something, whether it be your fists, daddy's shirt, my arm, your kitty. The amount of drool you're slobbering onto everyone and everything is laughable, and we usually just hand you a burp cloth to chew on and keep your little chest dry at the same time. You're sleeping like a champ, mostly, though I expect that teething will soon begin to interfere. You're usually down by 9 pm and you wake between 730 and 8, nursing two or three times throughout the night. Speaking of nursing, you like to eat lightly every two or three hours. We've got the nursing down like pros, and I love our time spent together. I still can't believe I'm the only one nourishing your little body! The human body is a remarkable thing.

You're finally becoming more aware of your sister and the interaction between you two is one of my favorite parts of the day. Ava will waltz into our bedroom in the morning, kiss you and say hello, then you two proceed to have a nice little conversation about who knows what. She makes you smile and laugh and you love giving her big open-mouthed kisses. When she's around and talking, you can't take your eyes off of her, and you love laying next to her for afternoon tummy time and Sesame Street.

Well, my love, this has gotten long and I've since moved you from your swing into my lap where you require many kisses and squeezes. Until next time.

I love you more than you'll ever know little babe,

mama

surprise!

Last night I threw a surprise dinner party for Mike's 25th birthday. It was at The Windsor, our new favorite place, and it was so fun. The food was delicious as always, the drinks strong, and the company wonderful.

Dear Ava,

This is you dancing like a maniac. You call music "me-ees" and it's freaking hilarious.

"Momma, turn on my me-ees!"

Other notable things you're saying:

You start so many of your sentences these days with "sometimes people..." and sometimes is always spoken with this tone of airiness like you're enlightening me with some great new information. Examples:

"Sometimes people go to the doctor"
"Sometimes people have a rash" (referring to the rash on your bum that brought us a dr. visit, see above)
"Sometimes people get medicine" (again, can't get off that dr. visit)

You like to tell us to "chop, chop" complete with hand clapping whenever you want something. And quickly I'm guessing.

You call your ABCs your "ABCDs"...which is still correct and makes it that much cuter.

Yesterday you started using "I really, really" out of nowhere:
"But I really, really, really want to go hiking!!", you say as we are, in fact, in the middle of hiking the mountain. To which I reply, "but we ARE hiking!" "No, MOM, I really, really, really want to go hiking!" "But I really, really don't want to go home!" "I really, really want to see Cy!"

Lately when you call me into your room for something it goes like this: "Mama....Mama....MAMA....Mama........MOM!!!"

When we ask you a question you've learned a good answer is, "I don't know?"

The way you say oatmeal is sidesplittingly funny. We've probably asked you to repeat 112983 dozen times. I believe you pronounce it, "et muu"

Before bedtime it's become a ritual to let everyone know how nice it's been meeting them. "Nice ta meet ya Mama" "Nice to meet ya Daddy" "Nice to meet ya baby sista Puhla"...complete with hand shake.

....and geez, there are so many more that I have written down. I'm getting better at it, I swear.

Love yous,

mama