Happy 3 Months Henry! Happy 2 1/2 Years Claire!

Henry and Claire have just hit some milestones that I want to be sure to record! It's late and I'm tired, so I'll start here and add some more things as I think of them. ;) There are no pictures, sorry. We did just get professional family pictures taken this morning though, so you'll see those within the week! :)

HENRY MATTHEW - 3 months on 2.11.12

• At 3 months, Henry is starting to show his personality more!
• He's smiling when Mami or Daddy talk to him and just him, making good eye contact. We have yet to capture this on film.
• Mami was doing squats with Henry last week and discovered that this makes him giggle! This was a good workout motivator for her - she did at least double the squats she was planning on doing and her legs felt it the next day. Thank you Henry! :)
• Henry is a laid back baby boy! He's happy doing pretty much whatever.
• Sometimes he gets this look of contemplation on his face...I think he's going to be a little more serious than his goofy sister.
• Usually Henry takes a shorter morning nap or two, and longer afternoon nap, and then an hour or so catnap in the evening and another catnap in the 'early night' as we'll call it, between nursing. He falls asleep for good between 11:30 and midnight. Luckily, Mami is a night owl and as long as she gets her afternoon nap in with the kiddos, she's fine with this routine he's set!
• We love Henry so much and I know I'm trying to enjoy 3 months as much as possible because he's already getting big so fast! At the same time, I can't wait to see what personality he'll have as a little person. :)

CLAIRE ELIZABETH - 2 1/2 on 2.1.12

• Claire pretty much rules this household. I think that's pretty typical of a two and a half year old. It's amazing how cooperative and easygoing she can be at times, and then how sassy and non-compliant she can be at other times. There are definitely things that make this more predictable, like Claire being well-rested or tired or satisfied or hungry, but sometimes it's anyone's guess. I do think that for a two year old though, she does a really great job of listening...usually!
• She's got spunk! She's goofy and energetic, but will usually sit down with you to play or read a book and pay close attention.
• She likes to act like she knows what's going on. Sometimes, when asked, she'll say "ich verstehe, Mama" (I understand, Mama.) even though it's clear that she couldn't possibly know.
• Claire is so stinkin' smart! Seriously. She talks like a four year old. She remembers everything. Yesterday she was talking about 'her' party. She was able to tell me that Henry, Mami, Daddy, and Claire were there, there were fish there, but they weren't real and we didn't eat them, there was a Christmas tree there, there were other people there too but she didn't know them, she had a snack there. Finalllllly, after racking my brain as to what she could be talking about, I remembered. We went to a Christmas party for my German Stammtisch Club. Everything she said was exactly right. The fish, if you're wondering, were decorative pillows...wierd I know. So. stinkin'. smart.

MAMI ELIZABETH & DADDY MATTHEW (as we affectionately joke with Claire sometimes...)

• Mami and Daddy TRY to keep the house picked up. HA!
• Mami has started to go to the YMCA 3-4 times a week. Sometimes the kids go with and go to ChildWatch for an hour, sometimes they stay home with Daddy. She's really enjoyed taking this time to do something beneficial for herself. Swimming laps and yoga are her favorites!
• Daddy enjoys taking 10 minutes here and there (or more time if he can get away) to work on his hobbies. We often have them strewn out on the kitchen counter or table so that he can work on them and still be upstairs to help out a bit!
• Matt and Lauren try to take time with each other, but often times we're just in the 'don't want to think or put forth effort on anything' mode when we finally get a break. I do have something up my sleeve for us though...can't say anything else, it's a surprise! :)