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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.