Oh, Chloe!

Chloe, Chloe, Chloe! At 21 1/2 months old, this is one stubborn little girl! I swear it was just a month or two ago I was telling people what a good girl Chloe is, she is so "perfect"! HA! Don't ever say that, you too might just jinx it! I swear this girl turned into a monster over night! You can even ask her, "Chloe, are you a monster?" She will reply by shaking her head yes and saying, "Uh huh!" (OK, in slight defense, the girl still can't talk, but it doesn't excuse her very naughty ways!) 

The weird thing is, she's usually only mean to Maddie. Some of Chloe's hobbies are pulling Maddie's hair (and continues pulling until I can get to her and "help" her release her grip) all while laughing about it, hitting Maddie on the head (over and over and over until I come over to "stop" her) all while laughing about it, pushing Maddie (over and over until I come over to "stop" her) all while laughing about it... are you seeing a pattern?  Oh, and time-out you ask?! That's like a reward for Chloe, and once she's out, she gives Maddie a hug and kiss (I tell her to say she's sorry, but since she can't talk, she just kisses her instead), but it doesn't take long before she's doing it again! It's our new daily routine!

Chloe can also throw the biggest tantrums, I'm talking, screaming on the top of her lungs "AH... AH... AH...AH" and this scream can happen any place at any time, and even when you least expect it! During church, oh ya, not so cute during the prayers!

All that being said, Chloe really is a sweet little girl. She couldn't love Maddie more! Well, maybe it's more of a love-hate relationship. But I think she just really enjoys teasing her. And really, why wouldn't she?! She definitely gets the reaction from Maddie she's looking for... the loud scream! But really, she does just love Maddie! She follows her around where ever she goes. She loves to wear her clothes (that's like dress-up for Chloe!) She loves to sit by her and do whatever she's doing. Having these girls get along can be a good or bad thing. They're also very good at getting into trouble together too!

Chloe also LOVES Sammy! It's beyond love, she is completely OBSESSED! If Sam is around, Chloe is right there next to him. "Talking" to him, loving on him, cramming his pacifier down his throat, feeding him play food, putting powder on him, whatever he needs (or doesn't need), Chloe's taking care of it!

Chloe is hilarious! We can just sit and watch her and laugh to the point of crying! She does the funniest things! 

I was surprised to find all these pictures I had taken of Chloe over the last month or so, Chloe, being the stubborn little thing she is (can't even be bribed!), runs from cameras and WILL NOT smile for them either! So we either have to trick her into looking at us and snapping the picture VERY fast, or chase after her... you'll see some of that action in the pictures Katie took of my kids recently... she literally chased after Chloe with her camera to take her picture! She just is so dang stubborn, there is NO justifying with her! If any of you pro-mom's have any ideas or suggestions for my sweet little angel, I'm all ears!!! ;)

We do absolutely LOVE our little Chloe-bugs! I just feel like a lot of times only the good comes out in blogs (and maybe that's a good thing), but this is real for us, this is our life, as it is, and even though at that moment these things make me want to scream and pull my hair out, I know in a year or two I'll look back and completely miss it all! I'll be able to laugh about all these things, good and bad. I already know, from experience with Maddie, I will miss these days!!

Riding Bikes

Maddie got a new bike for her birthday. The girl needed to learn... before this, she couldn't really figure out the whole pedaling thing. I was a bit worried, but she actually picked up it very fast. We just had to remind her a couple times to look forward, rather than down at her feet while pedaling! But she did good and is now riding all over the place!

Chloe followed her around for a little while on her little bike but had more fun chasing after her. Sam just went along for the "ride"!

Maddie's 4th Birthday

 

 Me: "Maddie, what kind of birthday party do you want to have this year?"

Maddie: "A pinkalicious princess party! Pink, Pink, Pink!!"

We had a little party for Maddie the night of her birthday. We've had a big party for Maddie every year, so this year I didn't feel too bad having it very low key, with just our family. I had the house all decorated and presents out the night before after she had already gone to sleep so when Maddie woke up she was very excited and told me "Oh Mommy, thank you so much for my decorations!" I was feeling good, that I had actually pulled this off, she'd be OK with a low-key party! Until she kept talking, "When will all my friends be here?" I tried to talk her into this "family" party, but she wasn't buying it and I could tell she was sad. I mean, really, what's a party without friends?! 

Problem is, by 9am on a Tuesday, people may actually already have plans for the evening. But thank goodness my cousin Stephanie, her husband, and two cute kids came to the rescue and helped us celebrate Maddie's birthday! Maddie couldn't have been happier, she absolutely adores little AJ (who happens to be the same age as Chloe.)

Still low-key, but a perfect pink princess party for Maddie's 4th birthday!

Spotlight

 Happy 4th Birthday, Maddie!!

Maddie got to be the spotlight student today at school because it was her birthday! She loved having mom come into her class with her poster all about her, and with her brother & sister! She just loves introducing her siblings to everyone she sees! 

Maddie was definitely in her element sitting up in the chair like a queen talking all about HER! She loved every minute of it! 

Maddie's Spring Program

Maddie had her Spring Program at school on Thursday. The kids were SO cute singing there songs! Mike filmed them on the flip camera, but I haven't loaded them onto the computer yet.  

 Maddie loved that not only did her mom, dad, sister and brother come watch her sing and perform, but auntie Karen, cousin Alex, cousin Allison, and baby Jordan came too!

This is Maddie with her best friend, Leah Mae. She just LOVES Leah Mae!

And these are Maddie's teachers, Miss Jennifer and Miss Angie! They have been WONDERFUL for Maddie this year!

Sam- 4 Months

Sam is four months old today!!! I took him to the doctor yesterday for his 4-month check up to find out he had double ear infections! Who knew?! He hadn't been sick, hadn't been fussy... strange!

Sammy has been so much fun! He still has some tummy problems occasionally, but most of the time he's just a happy baby! He's always smiling! Even when he's crying, he'll still give you a smile!  He recognizes our voices and will sometimes cry if I walk past him and he sees me, but I don't pick him up!

Sam is getting very close to rolling over... from his back to his tummy! He tries and tries.  Changing his diaper can be interesting sometimes with this new fun trick he's trying to figure out!

Sam still loves his bath, and still loves have clothes put over his head... such a silly little boy!  And Chloe is still completely obsessed with him! I thought it would eventually wear off and she'd leave him alone, but 4 months later and nothing has changed!

Here are Sam's stats:  

(although the weight is wrong, he was just over 14 pounds but the nurse must have typed it in wrong)

Weight: 13.96 pounds (31.13%)

Length: 25.2 inches (62.01%)

Head: 16.3 inches (26.7%)