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Big Sister

As the boys have become more mobile Juliana is more interested in playing with them and sharing their toys. She wants to know what they are doing as soon as she wakes up in the morning and Ruslan and Wyatt are always excited to see her.

Juliana is quick to tell me when they are doing something they are not allowed to do. She doesn’t quite understand why they can’t play with all of her toys – she says she will share. She doesn’t completely grasp that toys with tiny pieces are dangerous. But most of the time she is happy to take things away from them…like remotes or a favorite toy that she left out and one of the boys is happily chewing on.

It’s a delicate balance and can quickly go from happy, fun playtime to 3 children crying.

There are wonderful moments where they play together – children entertaining other children without a parent also playing – this is huge!

4.5

Juliana is 4-1/2 now.  One of the ideas I read when Juliana was a baby was to buy a Women's size small t-shirt and take her picture in it once per year until she grows into it.  I decided to take this picture on her half-year birthday (which I can never forget now that it is the day after the boys' birthday).  At 18 months the shirt came down to her ankles and now it is at her knees.  Looking at the 18-months and 2-1/2 pictures reminded me how cute those curls were that are long gone now.

Welcome Spring

The arrival of spring brightened the moods of everyone in Pittsburgh and Juliana is especially happy to be able to run outside without a coat.

She is happy to share her swingset with the boys as long as she occasionally gets a turn.

A Different Salon Experience

Juliana decided that her work bench and tools are now a salon - a full-service salon for hair and nails.  She welcomed my mom as her first customer this week and I was happy to be watching instead of participating.

First Juliana used the power saw to "cut" her hair and the hand saw to trim her bangs.

Then it was time to soak her fingers and toes.

The next step was to clean and trim the nails and the apply some polish. 

Finally it was back to the hair for a special treatment and a pink clip to finish it off.

A few minutes later I heard "Mommy hurry, Ruslan has the bang cutter".

Hair and Nails

Last Friday my mom took Juliana for a manicure - now she has had as many professional manicures as I have had in my life - that would be 1.  My mom was sitting next to Juliana having her nails done as well.

When asked what color she wanted - "Rainbow".  My mom was quick to remind her that she was only allowed to have one color and it needed to be light-colored.  Later she found out that she could have stickers painted on her nails.  She selected pink flowers for one finger on each hand and then butterflys for another finger.  The women couldn't understand her request for butterflys and apparently Juliana thinks that the way you speak to people who are not native English speaking is to talk slowly and loudly - BUT-TER-FLY.  And I guess it worked since she ended up with what she wanted.  We will need to work on her communication skills.

Saturday we went for much needed haircuts.  It was a salon filled weekend.

When You Were Born

By the time you arrived at 10:15 pm on that Friday night, it had been a long day (two days really).  You were in no hurry to come out into the world.  After being induced and a long labor and pushing, you still wanted to stay put.  Eventually the Drs decided it was in everyone's best interest for me to have a c-section.

As the nurses got everything ready and they wheeled me to the OR, I was very tired, nervous and so anxious to see you and know that you were healthy.  Once everyone was ready and Daddy had made it to my side, you were out so quickly.  They wrapped you up and Daddy walked over to see you - you were so calm in those first moments after your birth.

Daddy got to hold you first since the Drs were still working on Mommy than you were back in your tiny bed and Daddy went to the recovery room to tell your Grandparents that you were here and that you were perfect.

It was so quiet in the OR at that point.  The Drs had finished their work and the nurses got Mommy ready to go back to the room, I didn't even know that you were still there.  Just as I was ready to be wheeled out, they brought you to me and I held you for the first time.  Even now 4+ years later I can remember that moment as if it just happened.  I was overjoyed to hold you close and see your cute little nose and tiny fingers.

We spent the next few days in the hospital getting to know each other.  We took lots of pictures because we thought that you were the cutest little baby we had ever seen.

We took the first pictures of our new little family.

We dressed you up for the first time just to take more pictures.  You are even wearing a pink barette in your hair.

We held you lots, it was rare that you were in your little bed and not being held by Mommy, Daddy or one of the visitors who came to meet you.

On the morning that we packed up and got you ready to go home, we were so happy that you were our little girl.

After the time we spent snuggling you and gazing at your cuteness and wondering what we ever did without you, it was clear that we had fallen completely in love with you.

My (little bit) Big Girl

Sometimes I look at her and I am amazed at how quickly she is changing and growing up. 

She plays by herself for longer stretches of time - emerging from her craft table with fabulous masterpieces - or appearing in fantastic dress-up attire - or sitting quietly playing her leapster.

She is watching "real movies" - movies with people.  During the week that school was closed for snow she watched The Princess Diaries I and II.  Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune are quickly becoming a favorite part of her evening - she yells letters at the TV and is very pleased if they call that letter next.  Can I watch one more puzzle before bed...

She takes showers instead of baths at night - a huge time saver and so much easier for me.  I squeeze shower gel into the puff and she washes herself and is starting to do a better job of washing her own hair.

After months of being dry at night in a pull-up, she started sleeping in panties last month.  We didn't pressure her to make the switch because she sleeps really well at night and is usually asleep for 11-12 hours.

After almost 2 years of not letting me doing anything but brush her hair in the morning, she is finally letting me style it.  And she was very excited when I bought new barrettes and ponytail holders this week.

When she wakes up in the morning, she brushes her teeth and gets herself dressed before she comes downstairs.

She loves helping in the kitchen for short streches of time - measuring and mixing ingredients

And maybe, she might not be mad at me anymore about Ruslan and Wyatt and the attention that they get from me that used to be entirely reserved for her.  Afterall, she kinda loves being a big sister.

The Dentist

I hate going to the dentist.  Not in the normal way that people just don't like going, it's bigger than that.  I had a bad experience as a child.  And now on the days leading up to a dental check-up I feel sick and dread every moment that takes me closer to that time.  The first time I went to the dentist in Cranberry when I lived in that area, it wasn't good.  When I left, she gave me a prescription for Valium and said that I needed to take it before every appointment.  I did and it helped a little bit.

Given my history I really wanted Juliana's first trip to the dentist to be a positive experience.  I made an appointment at a pediatric dentist recommended by a friend (Dentistry for kids - Monroeville, they have other offices in the area as well).  In advance we talked in general terms about what to expect and explained that everyone would be very nice.

The staff was wonderful.  On the way back to the chair we stopped to visit the fish tank and then she had time to look around the room and watch another little girl having her teeth cleaned.  She hopped up in the chair, picked out sunglasses to wear and payed close attention as each tool was explained to her.  She did great!  At one point she was asked a question and I could see the look in her eyes - how am I supposed to answer you while you have your fingers in my mouth.

She sat perfectly still for the x-rays and even had a fluoride treatment - they had 10 different flavors of the fluoride - she selected cotton candy (after her bubble gum flavored tooth paste).

She left with 4 Princess stickers and lip gloss as a prize for being so good and she excited about going back!

Juliana and Ruslan

Early on it was clear that Wyatt was Juliana's favorite brother.  She told me that Ruslan was my baby and Wyatt was her baby.  Recently she is just as interested in Ruslan.