Peter's 4-month check-up

Petey-pie had a great check-up at the doctor today! He is 24" long (in the 20-25th percentile) and weighs 14 lbs., 5 oz. (in the 40-50th percentile). The doctor pronounced him a "handsome little guy" and said he was just about ready to start solid foods. We're going to wait a couple of weeks for his eating patterns to settle down. He's kind of a finicky eater and has recently started eating significantly more than usual, so we just want to see how this new phase shakes out.

Here's Peter playing with his favorite friend -- the handsome baby in the mirror!

Alice in Wonderland

For some strange reason, we have called this hairdo an "Alice in Wonderland" ever since I was a little kid. I finally deemed the sides of CJ's hair long enough to attempt it, and it turned out pretty well. I did have to use a little bit of hairspray, but the 'do didn't survive the nap. Thank goodness I took a photo of the momentous occasion before it was lost to history.

Next week, on America's Next Top Model...

... Charlotte gets kicked off for failing the "posing" challenge.

Peter at 4 months old

I have been terrible at reporting on Peter's development, but I'm hoping to change that. He's starting to discover his feet and now rolls over from his front to back when the mood strikes him. He's also headed to the doctor tomorrow for his four-month checkup and I'm guessing the doctor is going to give Peter the okay for starting rice cereal!

Peter smiles at everybody and coos a ton. Charlotte loves to imitate/quote the sounds he makes -- "'Gooooooo,' says Peter!" -- but she also has this annoying habit of insisting that Peter take his hands out of his mouth whenever he's chewing on his fingers. She's such a little thumb-sucking hypocrite, but I guess this is just the start of a long childhood of bossing her poor little brother around. He loves to smack the animals hanging from the bar above his infant bouncy seat thing. If he's lucky, he gets one of them in his mouth and then he chomps on it like there's no tomorrow.

The weird thing is that he is so much fairer than me and Charlotte. Perhaps he will have Corey's coloring when he's older and has spent many more summers out under the sun, but for now he is a pale little dude. His eyes are still a very pretty blue though. His Granny Great has sworn never to buy him clothes in any other color than blue because he his eyes look ridiculously beautiful when he wears it.

Auntie Ernie, toddler stylist extraordinaire

Doesn't Auntie Ernie buy CJ the cutest clothes? And doesn't CJ look soooooooo old in this photo?

Mom's been spiking my bottles again...

Why yes, my eyes are still blue!

Charlotte's had long since turned brown at this same age. Will he have his Granddad and CousAunt Abbey's blue eyes???

Peter and his Granny Great

Aren't they the cutest?

Faith Carol flirts with danger

What else would you call dyeing Easter eggs with a toddler?



Hey Alicia! Is it okay if I splash colored dye all over your kitchen? It is? Great! Let's get to it!!



First they wrote on the eggs with a special magic crayon. Faithy asked CJ what she should write, and CJ said "egg!" So FC complied. Then they dipped the egg in blue.



Even Peter was worried about Alicia's kitchen. Or the dude singing on "American Idol." One of the two.



Look Mom -- I colored on this egg myself!



CJ pronounced them "gorgeous!"

PLAY-DOUGH!!!

I finally worked up the courage to make some play-dough for Charlie Jo and now I'm wondering why I waited so long. CJ has been playing with it at school, so that's what finally reminded me to try it. I had memories of stained hands and clothing from a childhood full of home-made play-dough (both at home and at friends' houses), so I chickened out when it came to coloring it. CJ doesn't seem bothered by the lack of color so I'm just going to hang tight until she asks for it.

I put her in the high chair with a big glob of it on Thursday afternoon and she sat still playing with it for TWO SOLID HOURS. The only way I got her away from it was by bribing her with a snack. We busted it out again Saturday morning and Skyped with Corey's parents while she played. It was the first time in months that she actually stayed still in front of the computer for more than a few minutes. She made "snakes" to show NanaB and Granddad and used all sorts of my kitchen utensils to wreak havoc with the dough. The garlic press was a big hit -- she loved making "baby worms" with it.

This is the basic recipe I used:

No Fuss Play Dough

1 cup cold water
1 cup salt
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 cups flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
food coloring

In a large bowl, mix together water, salt, oil and a few drops of food coloring. Mix flour and cornstarch and add 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly (you may need a little more or a little less than 2 cups flour so make sure you stir in until it is the right consistency). Knead for a few minutes with flour on your hands.

It stores really well in a ziplock bag. Maybe we'll tackle the food coloring another day...

Just hangin' around

I busted out CJ's old doorway jumper because I realized PJ had finally reached the age at which we started CJ in it. He lasted in it for a lot longer than I thought he would -- maybe about five minutes or so. Of course, I had to hold CJ back to prevent her from mauling him in it. I used the jumper with CJ for months and months. It kept her captive while I showered and entertained her to no end. CJ was a jumping maniac. Let's hope PJ is as big of a fan!

St. Patrick's Day peace

For some reason, on St. Patrick's Day Charlotte asked to sit in her booster seat with a bib on while she colored with her new animal figurines. She also wanted Peter to sit in his infant seat bouncy thing (I have no idea what the real name for those things is), and he sat there happily playing while she colored. It was so nice and peaceful.

Yes, it only lasted for about five minutes, but I was able to unload and reload the dishwasher plus start a load of laundry without Peter clinging to and drooling on my shoulder. That's all the luck I can hope for at this time. Happy late St. Patrick's Day!





(Yes, the purple balloons are still up from Charlotte's party. They're just so happy that I can't bear to remove them. Either that or I'm just being lazy. You be the judge.)