Shopping Buddy Eleanor and Patrick Laughs

You can tell a lot about Bradley and Eleanor by what they shout out as we get in the car to go somewhere. We got them loaded up to go to church this morning and Bradley starting asking hopefully "Are we going to a friend's house? Friends house??" while Eleanor shouted "SHOPPING!" Nathan says I already broke our two year old daughter. I can't help that she's awesome.

On the way home from church. Patrick is asleep and both older siblings are holding his hands.

We rarely take all three kids with us on errands unless it's Costco and it's kind of fun to have an enthusiastic shopping buddy. She loves groceries, she loves the hardware store, there is no wrong kind of shopping as far as Eleanor is concerned.

Here's our little shopper staying cool at the pool. She and Bradley love the pool so much, we've gone a lot more than I thought we would this summer.

Patrick's favorite pool activity

Patrick's personality is coming through. Mostly he seems to be obsessed with his older siblings. He cackled while watching them play basketball in the basement.

THIS is Patrick. He had just woken up and spotted me.

He also cackles with delight when you scare him. As in, I'll say "boo!" and he'll jump in fright and then laugh. He also does this when I hold him upside down and move him up and down in front of my face. I find this very promising for his future keeping up with his exciting big brother and sister.

Parenting tip needed: What do you do when your daughter runs to you crying "He eat me!" and your son comes out of the next room and says calmly "I did not bite her, I missed." Sighhhhh.

Usually they play so nicely together.

This is fairly standard during shows

All three kids playing with play doh and dinosaurs

Nathan is soooooo cute!

Bradley has been taking notes on how things work around here and the other night at dinner Eleanor was begging for some of the blueberries on his tray because she had already eaten all of hers. He said "Do you want a blueberry? Eat some of your bread." Yep, that's pretty much how we do meals. Bradley can take over.

Bradley showing Eleanor how you're supposed to talk on the phone.

Eleanor still has a little trouble at naps and bedtime and often volunteers items that I'm supposed to take away from her for trying to escape from her room, even without me asking. I don't feel good about our odds of her falling asleep quickly on her own when I finish singing her a song and she says "Here penguin" and tries to hand it to me, before I've even left the room. She's lucky she's so cute.

This is what happens when you sit still for a minute after categorically refusing to nap earlier in the day.

And after Mommy removes the paraphernalia. Didn't expect her to fall asleep in her new tutu but I LOVE it.

And here she is in my bed for some post nap cuddles. I love that she comes and finds me for snuggles when she wakes up.

Eleanor has been very into checking out my shoes lately and has already learned her lesson when it comes to tricky heels.

Running shoes are much better!

I could follow Eleanor around all day and record what she says as she plays with her toys.

We've had to put Patrick in the stroller for recent park outings because he decided he hated the baby carrier I had that had him facing in towards me instead of out towards the world. My attempt at figuring out the Moby wrap did not go well so into the stroller he goes!

Someone save this baby

He kind of hates the stroller too so I'm getting a new forward facing baby carrier for him.

Smiling in the stroller only because he's finally getting the attention he is very much entitled to.

Bradley is so happy being the big brother and taking care of his younger siblings.

 Both children are eager to help take care of little Patrick.

Is this photo staged? What? Me stage a photo? I can't wait until we retry a family picture when we do Patrick's six month photos in October. I think our crew will do well this time around!

Bradley wishes he could wake up from every nap with Patrick cuddles.

We've had fun going to friend's houses over the summer, especially now that there are some other babies for Patrick to play with!

This is Bradley's friend Eli's little sister. Extra friends are so much fun!

Kids' table at dinner with friends

It's finally at the point that I feel like it's nice to get out to see friends and do things but staying in can be okay too. We make our own fun!

Bradley is a hilarious maniac. He skipped his nap the other day and when I went in to his room he stole all my fingers and my nose and laughed hysterically the whole time. I love this boy so much.

He also continues to tell great stories. I told him about a family trip to Florida I want to do in the next year or two and he told me a marvelous tale about speed boats. After this video ended he started talking about speed boats made of cows ... Also, note the tan line on his ankle here. Swim shoes and good pool time makes for excellent tan lines.

Our church rented out a theater for the new Minions movie and Nathan got to take Bradley and Eleanor. It was Bradley's second movie in a theater and Eleanor's first.

They loved it almost as much as Nathan did. He doesn't get to do many of these "big" experiences with the kids, he loves it when it's a special Daddy outing.

We have a number of kind-hearted friends that come to visit and get coerced into reading to and entertaining children.

Lucky Cerra. She got the kitty too.

Kory and Fatima remain favorites.

It's crazy how much has changed in the four months since we brought this little guy home.

I think he's fitting into the family just fine.

 

This is our crew these days! Saturday morning cuddles and comics with Daddy. We may have a few cuddlers in our family.