Goodbye and Hello!

Shelby is officially in a pre-K program in the Dolphin Room! Our project? Learning to read! She has all the pieces, we're just trying to figure out how to put them together. She can sound out words to spell them, but stringing sounds together to form a word seems to be more challenging.  In any event, here's to a great school year!

Last Day in the Pelican Room:

First Day in the Dolphin Room:
*she is ALL arms and legs these days! Growing like a weed.....a cute weed though.....the kind you want to cuddle with.

Let's Go Aggies!

NMSU volleyball played in a tournament at UNLV, so I took the girls down to see a macth. Shelby loved it and Sienna was a joy. I was able to chat with my former coaches and Shelby got her much-desired "hug from a volleyball player." Great memory and for a cherry on top....they won!

8 Months!

SLOW DOWN little one. I did not feel like this with Shelby, but man - time is flying with Sienna. This little ray of sunshine is 8 months and here's what's up!

• Sits like a champ, can almost get into the sitting position by herself
• EVERYTHING goes in the mouth
• She loooooves to pull hair. Even the other kiddos' hair at school
• Still does not like her veggies
• Will eat some finger foods
• Enjoys avocados
• Helmet off!
• Still two teeth
• Still wakes up once....sometimes not at all
• Loves her sissy
• Lots of smiles
• Hair = strawberry blonde 
• Clothes: Mostly 18 months, some 12 months

Adios Helmet!

We made it! No more helmet! It first went on, on May 12 and it came off for good on August 11. That first night that I could rock Sienna and snuggle her fluffy head, rather than a plastic helmet, brought tears to my eyes. All the stares, plastic snuggles and sweat aside, it was SO WORTH IT.  She started with a head that was 18 mm from "perfect" and ended with one that is just 1 mm away. I documented some of her progress, but the photos do not do it justice - the helmet was a miracle. An expensive one, but a miracle nonetheless. My younger brother told me that she "looked like a Mayan" - I assure you that is no longer a fair comparison!

Starting photo:

Where we ended up (you'll notice the position of the cheek is even different:

 And lots of cute moments in between:

QT with my Shelby Girl

Shelby often amazes me with her maturity. The way that she can voice her feelings and put her thoughts into words, is impressive. Shelby and I have regular chat about "how she's doing" -- especially since Sienna's arrival. There have been several occasions where Shelby has told me that I do not play with her enough, that I love Sienna more -- you know, that kind of heart breaking stuff. With that, I make an effort to get in extra one-on-one time with her whenever I can!  I try to capture photos of our special adventures  along the way.

At the pool at Lifetime Fitness

At the splash pad after doing some shoe shopping

Doing "Frozen" Legos while Sienna sleeps

Bouncing it up at "Sky Zone"

31 Flavors!