Julia's Baptism

We are so grateful to everyone who celebrated Julia's baptism with us today!  To honor her namesake, Julia wore a dress with lavender flowers on it.  While she squawked and screamed right before the baptism, she was pretty attentive during it.  Etta and Norah were less so - wandering around while Louise was leading the liturgy.  Norah even laid down at one point and made snow angels on the rug.  We're just trying to set the bar high for children's behavior in church!  After church, we all indulged in canitas and barbaric before the ice cream truck arrived.  A special thanks to whoever ordered extra treats and stashed them in our freezer for us to find later. When they weren't eating, Norah and Etta spent the party changing into approximately one million different outfits.  Can't wait to do laundry this week!

The New Wednesdays

Now that Norah is in school on Wednesdays, Etta and Carter are the big kids.  Time really does fly!

Shenanigans

First Homework Ever

Norah had her first homework assignment ever over the weekend.  She ended up working on it all weekend and was still working on it this morning.  I'm not sure it bodes well for any of us that she was finishing the assignment the morning it was due.  

Four Month Appointment

Julia had her four month well-baby check this morning (only three weeks late).  She was declared healthy with excellent gross motor skills.  Her stats are:

Weight: 15 pounds, 13 ounces (69%)

Height: 26 inches (89%)

Workin' It

First Day of Four-Year-Old Preschool

Norah had her first day of four-year-old preschool today, and it went so well.  After her challenges transitioning last year, it felt like a banner day that no one had any tears - although I did have to leave her classroom quickly before I ruined our success!  Her vocational aspirations this year are to be a "mommy and work in a church."  They are slightly more realistic than last year: to be a daddy and Elsa from Frozen.  After a summer of playing with Norah every day, Etta got home and promptly took a morning nap on the couch.  I can't remember the last time she took a morning nap.  

Princess Land

The Penttilas' home turned into Princess Land and Princess Island today.  That's a pretty good description of our lives with three girls.

Shelter Dinner

It's so much fun to watch the girls serve dinner to New Genesis men and then eat with them.  Norah even stuck around to help clean up.  

Generosity in Action

Carter continues his generosity with Julia by trying to feed her his grilled cheese.  Knowing how much he loves his food, it's a big deal.  

Splash Time

Now that Julia doesn't sleep the day away while we're at the pool, she likes to get wet as well.  She can spend a surprisingly long time splashing in the shallow end.  And, Etta has finally started going down the slides.  It's too bad she waited until the end of the season, but hopefully this will make her more daring at the beginning of next season.  

Four Month Sleep Regression

Sweet Julia became a particularly bad sleeper this week - waking up for the day at 2:30am.  After four days of that, Nick and I were both tuckered out, so Nick offered to take the night shift on Tuesday night.  Julia slept in her crib in the nursery for the first time, and Nick slept next to her.  Nick's parenting intuition was right on: she slept through the night again, from 7:00pm to 5:00am.  On Wednesday night, she did the same.  We're hopeful that we're done with that 2:30am nonsense.

Bottle For You, Bottle For Me

Now that Carter is a big kid - 16 months old! - he's helping feed Julia her bottle.  After giving her some, he decided it was time for him to have a little snack too.  Julia wasn't really in the mood to share.  Then, all of the kids dog-piled.  Just a day among cousins.

Baseball Fashion

Norah got some new hand-me-downs, and she wanted to put the new shoes and hat right to use at the Rockies game.  Because she put her ponytail through her hat, she kept saying, "I look just like Nana!"

Four Month Birthday

Watching my sweet baby sleep is the perfect way to celebrate her four month birthday.

Late Night Swing

Before heading to bed last night, the girls enjoyed a relaxing swing.