T-15 months, 3 months home

Since T turned one while we were still in Ukraine, I never did get great first year pictures.  So, I was determined to get some at 15 months!  She is so smart-she's crawling everywhere, into everything, pulling up on our legs, tables, chairs, the dog....whatever she can get to!  She's feeding herself finger foods, can do all the hand motions to several songs, signs mama, all done, and more, and definitely says daddy.  We can't believe how much she's changed! 

This picture cracks me up.  This is her made up sign for "more".  It certainly looks like she's praying, but she's really asking for more "itsy bitsy spider"

Little miss has two teeth, and two that are coming in any second!  She goes for the dog's food all the time and we are going to have to put up gates to keep her in one place sometimes!  She has very strong opinions, particularly about leaving.  If we are going outside, she wants whoever is closest to the van so she can get in and go on an adventure!  She loves to be out and about and makes a beeline for any open door.  She loves her family and wants to be in the room and nearby as many of us as possible at a minute.  Luckily, she can crawl and follow her sisters!  The cat and the dog also get tackled frequently.  She pretends to talk on the phone, and shakes her head no if we ask her questions.  She's also imitating every sound we make...soon we'll have three talkative girls around here!  We love our sweet Ukrainian girl so very much. 

M in the middle

The middle of her 3rd year, the middle girl...

My sweet M...she's had a lot of adjusting to do in the last little while.  First, a baby sister who made her the "middle-est" instead of the youngest, then her big sister and best friend went to Kindergarten.

She's funny and silly, but sometimes I can feel in her spirit that things are a little bittersweet for her

This girl loves pockets.  And bags.  And baskets...and whatever she can load up with as many random things from around the house as possible.  If you are missing something, M is the one to ask.

M is 3 and a half, and does everything passionately.  She hugs hard, sings loudly, loves to the end.  She's learning to eat new things, which we're all so glad for.  She surprises us often with the things she's picked up from hearing us count with E, or letters she knows and can write all of a sudden.  She even has a few sight words that she's just heard read often.  The kiddo loves books, and to snuggle.  She hates to be away from her people, and is my big kitchen helper.  In fact, she can run most machinery in our house as well as we can, and better than her sisters.  While E needs lots of time alone, M wants to spend as few minutes alone as possible.  She's everybody's sidekick and entertainment.  We love our little pixie girl...so sweet and mischievous at the same time.

Sisters

These don't need too much explanation...love my sweet girls

E goes to school

Today was my big girl's first full day of Kindergarten.  Here's a few pics leading up to it...

The little girls started mothers day out one day a week (2 for M) a couple of weeks ago.  We spent our morning sewing in Panera.

First half day of school, she requested pancakes with yogurt hair, whipped cream and cherry eyes, and chocolate chip mouth.

Lunch the first day-a heart pb and j with sprinkles, popcorn, and homemade marshmallows and graham crackers with store bought chocolate for make your own smores.  And strawberries and yogurt.  She did not, ahem, manage to finish it all...

First day outfit!  She was saying "Kindergarten!" with her hand up, but it turned out pretty cute

Forgot about the sign until after school...

Last weekend at the park

We went to Cades Cove and took some pictures.  It's hard to tell, but her skirt is really fantastic (not the sewing job...it's mediocre), but it's a french school yard with words about french schools around the bottom.

Yes, mom and gigi, she is reading a bobbsey twin book

Love this one and the one above

Miss E is 5 and a half.  She loves to choose her own clothes and plan as many things in advance as possible.  She is really great with her little sisters and is pretty responsible if I have to leave the room for a minute to watch T.  She likes to be in charge, though, so I have to be careful about that!  She is very, very self confident in her abilities.  About three months ago, reading really clicked for her and she can read with confidence and intonation.  She's a smart kiddo, and will do well in school.  She is very independent and likes to play with M, but loves her own quiet time to read and draw and sew also.  Oh first child!  We laugh because she is the first child of two first children, and both of her grandmothers are firsts also.  She is absolutely the first!  She knows what she wants, but is also pretty considerate and will often yield to those younger than her.  She could not be any sweeter.  We love our biggest girl to the ends of the earth.