It has already started. My tiniest little human is starting to grow out of things. She is too big for the smallest size of cloth diapers we have. She is too big for those teeny-tiny NB size jumpers I bought for her before she was born, wondering whether they would be too small and that fit her new little newborn body perfectly. Her feet will absolutely not be crammed into 0-3 month sleepers anymore. There are two outfits I pulled out the other day that she had only worn once before being lost in the back of the drawer because they were way too big. They are now just the right size but won't be for long. I remember this with big E. From now until the age of...sixteen? eighteen?, the race is on. The race to make sure she gets enough wear out of her clothes before they are outgrown. The race to keep pulling out the next size of clothes from storage before she zooms right by it. The race to keep enough of everything in her size on hand and try to go out and buy it BEFORE she needs it.

Sigh. They *literally* grow up so fast.

Speaking of, here is an excerpt from Little E's diary:

This week I am really enjoying the taste of my own hands and am slowly learning not to gag myself with those pesky fingers. I am babbling and drooling up a storm, particularly when my mouth is full of fingers. I am slowly learning to tolerate the car, provided someone is in the back seat with me, actively catering to my entertainment with constant eye contact, silly faces and soothing songs and stories.

I can say my sister's name. I can click my tongue. And I can finally bounce my own bouncy chair by kicking my legs. So fun!

As for my sister, she learned archery last week and then spent the afternoons with me and a friend, which was a lot of fun. We went swimming, and to Clovermead, and one day they made paintings just for me! This week she is rock climbing and I don't get to see her as much. But I sure love hanging out in the back seat with her on the way to and from camp. She is my favourite. Yesterday she showed us how well she can climb - she climbed all the way to the ceiling! Her instructor said she was really quick learner when it came to learning how to put on her harness and tie knots. I want to be as good at climbing as her when I grow up.

3 months already?!

Yesterday we celebrated little E's 3-month birthday at Sunfest. I simply cannot believe it. She has already changed so much from that tiny little nugget we brought home. For example...

She smiles ALL THE TIME now. She is such a happy little baby, a far cry from the screaming rage machine that had us cowering in the corner for a short while. She has smiles for everyone just about any time you ask her...unless she's hungry, fighting sleep, or it's 8:30-9:30pm. One smile from her and everything is right in the world. It's magic.

She chats up a storm. Who knows what she's actually saying, but I'm quite confident that her most favourite things to say are "Elle", "Yah!" and "I love you". I'm sure "Mama" and "Excuse me, but I'm about to poop" are just around the corner.

She sleeps like a DREAM! Would you believe it if I told you that she once slept for 11 hours in a row?! True story. She can sleep reliably for about 8 hours a night, although since our trip to Ottawa she prefers to meet up for a snack around 2:30am. Don't worry, I'm not complaining.

Although she's a great sleeper, she fights going to sleep like a champ. Besides the boob, her kryptonite includes being sung to and bounced on the ball. Her favourite songs are Peace Like a River and Lost Boy.

She rolled over! Just once, about a week ago, she rolled from her back to her tummy on her playmat and then got super mad about it. She tends to roll onto her side to sleep now, which for some reason I find freaking adorable.

She has graduated from the wrap (aka the "crack wrap" because she cannot resist its slumber-inducing powers) to the Snugli, which allows her a bit more freedom to check out the world. She doesn't automatically fall asleep when we go out anymore, so she appreciates a view of more than just my chest.

She takes a bottle well, so I can leave her with dad or grandma and papa for snippets of time to go to appointments, exercise, or just to feel what it's like to be instantly 12 pounds lighter for a little while.

Big sister is arguably her favourite person in the world, and I think the feeling is mutual. Sure, there are times (like when they're stuck the back of a car together for 8 or 9 hours) when Big E would probably love to run screaming from her, but for the most part they light each other up. Now that little E is engaging with us more, Big E is really enjoying singing songs and playing games with her, and cute photo-ops abound!

As for me, I finally started exercising regularly again about a week ago and it feels great. It's a heady combination of endorphins from working out and the freedom of only having myself to take care of, and it reminds me that there is more to life than just the next nap or diaper change. J is getting busier at work and is usually pretty worn out at the end of the day, but we're doing a pretty good job of helping each other out and making time for everyone.

Gryffindor turns 1 year old this month, and he has more bad habits than good, it seems. But J keeps reminding me that he's a puppy and that he'll grow out of eating everything that fits in his mouth, chewing everything that doesn't and licking all of the above. We'll see. He's a bad dog, but he's cute.

Growing up

She's 8 1/2 already. One minute she's my sweet little girl, still so small, bright eyed and innocent. The next minute she's a worldly soul, testing her autonomy and trying on different personas.

She loves the colour black, particularly in her wardrobe.

She loves catching frogs and taming snakes.

She loves to dress up. She does not like to be rushed as she carefully selects monochromatic ensembles, long, flowing scarves and whimsical accessories.

She loves fidget spinners, super mario brothers, face painting and cartwheels.

She still lets us sleep in on the weekends and will read for hours in bed, but prefers to wait until mom and dad wake up to announce that she's STARVING, rather than get breakfast for herself.

She would eat ice cream every day, and dreams of a day when we'll let her have cones again...

She loves listening to the radio and knows the worlds to most songs better than I do.

She is the slowest. eater. ever.

She is the messiest. eater. ever.

She is the slowest. at. getting. ready. ever.

She is such a great big sister. I really can't say it enough. She takes such good care of little E, and they bring each other such joy.

She loves dogs. Especially other people's dogs.

She's becoming more self-conscious. She gets embarrassed, she worries about making mistakes in front of people, all of the normal stuff that happens, but it makes me sad. I miss the oblivious devil-may-care attitude she had when she didn't get weighed down with the opinions of others.

She says hi to everyone we pass on the street. I love that.

She likes to match her outfits with her friends or with me. One day I'll be off the list, but not yet!

She loves to go the park by herself with a walkie-talkie.

She loves to go on dates with J and with me. She loves having each of us all to herself.

She drives me crazy.

I love her to the moon and back.