Eliza's Hearing Aids

Eliza is always super jealous of her sisters hearing aids. Isn't that funny. You think she would be glad she doesn't wear them, but she wants to be like everyone else. Last time I took Carli in I showed Breena, the audiologist,  the picture of when Eliza made herself hearing aids out of play doh. When we showed up for Eliza's  yearly hearing test this week and Breena,had a special treat for her. She found some fake plastic hearing aids and gave them to Eliza. She even had the secretary make Eliza a case for them with her name on them. When we got home we found some old hearing aid molds of Gretta's that fit Eliza. She has been asking me all well to help her put in her hearing aids. Isn't that cute! 

The good news is Eliza passed her hearing test, so she doesn't need the real things yet! 

Carli 16 months

These pictures pretty much sum up Carli's new independent state at 16 months. She had no desire to sit still while I took her picture. Only after she got the cell phone was she a little happier about the situation. 

Carli has turned into a toddler almost over night. She is no longer a little baby. 

She is walking full time now. On crawling any more for her. Has a hard time sitting still at all, so church is now very difficult. 

She loves real food. She is done with baby food. She also only wants to feed herself. Which is very messy. She has almost mastered using a spoon for self feeding. 

She has transitioned to a sippy cup only. No more bottles.

She is still a great sleeper. Sleeping from about 7:30-8:30 to 7- 8am and taking one long nap a day. She has been a little bit more tired lately and I think would take two naps a day if I would let her. It's just hard with the girls home to give her two naps. 

She loves to toddle around and play with her toys. She has three books she loves to read before bed. It's taken up until now for her to really sit still through a whole book. She also likes to have lots of stuff animals in bed with her. 

She likes to play with her baby doll and feed it a bottle. 

She has a mouth full of teeth- 8 on the bottom and almost 8 on the top. Two are in the process of coming in. 

She is a bitter. She likes to bite toes and other body parts. She thinks it's funny. This is a habit we need to stop.

She loves to play in the bath tub. 

She loves to play with her sisters, but now will scream if they pick her up and she didn't want to be picked up. 

Is talking more and vocalizing more. She still only has a few words, but is screaming when she wants things. She has about a 6 month speech delay, so I think she is really in the babbling stage now and hopefully will pick up a few more words soon. 

She can get her hearing aids off QUICK! 

All of a sudden she has stranger anxiety and I am her FAVORITE person. I was hoping that phase wouldn't come. It is nice to feel so wanted, but nursery is coming up and I was hoping she would go without a fuss. 

Carli loves the beach and she had a great time going to Idaho to visit Nana & Papa last month. 

She is still super sweet and lovable. We are so glad Carli came to our family!

Blueberry picking

One of our favorite things to do in the summer in Michigan is pick blueberries. The girls and I went Saturday morning before we picked Eric up at the airport. It was a cool summer day (notice Gretta's sweater). I think it was only 65 degrees. We had a great time. Carli liked visiting with the chickens. 

Summer Fun!

Carli want's to be a big kid. She loves to climb in the back of the minivan and sit by her sisters. Luckily she still rides backwards so from the second row she can watch them. 

Wednesday night we went downtown for ice cream. It was a beautiful summer night in St. Joe.

Last week was super HOT and Humid and this week it's been cool! With lows in the low 60's. Carli and I took a walk on the beach yesterday morning and needed sweatshirts. 

Beautiful hair

Gretta is always begging me to do her hair. She love to watch Cute Girl Hair Styles. She says she is growing her hair out. After Church on Sunday one of my friends braided her hair for her. Doesn't it look beautiful! Now only if I could figure out how to do that. 

Chuck E cheese

For some reason the girls, especially Eliza, were begging me to take them to Chuck E Cheese. I think it might have something to do with the fact that Doc McStuffins went to the arcade in one of the episodes they watched recently. I figured we hadn't been for a while and since Eric is out of town I decided  we could go Friday after camp. They were so excited!!! Everyone had a great time. They now have a program called, "Every Child A Winner" where you get a card when you come in. Gretta & Carli's cards were good for 20 free tickets and Eliza got a chance to go in the Ticket Blaster. She decided to let Gretta go for her since she didn't know what the Ticket Blaster was. Gretta was so excited. Even Carli had a great time. 

Afterwards we stopped at the mall to get the girls jean jackets and jean skirts. Gretta had to wear hers home even thought it was over 90 degrees outside. She thinks she is a teenager! Notice her pose. 

Thanks Nana for the jean jackets and skirts:)

Fun at the Carousel

We went to the carousel. I didn't get a picture of it, but all three girls rode in a row. Carli was on one of the horses that doesn't go up and down and she liked that a lot better. I just love going to the Carousel. 

And so it begins

After being home less than 24 hours we took Eric to South Bend for his flight to Detroit and then on to Sao Paulo Brazil. He is going to find housing, schools, etc for our big move next month. He is also going to find out more of what his role will be in LAR. 

Good luck Eric! We will miss you:)

Thanks Nana and Pops!

We had such a great time in Idaho! Thanks Nana & Papa for spoiling us rotten. 

McCall

We went up to McCall with my parents. It was a beautiful drive. Idaho is very beautiful  even it seems very dry to me after living in Michigan.  Michigan could just use some mountains and it would be perfect. Oh and have all of our family close by too. 

We stopped at Kelley's Whitewater park on the way. Then Pops took us to Alley Ice Cream. We enjoyed swimming in the pool. Making Smores on the lake at Shore Lodge. Swimming in Payette Lake. Boating on Payette Lake, 

It was a fun trip!

Boating with the Marti's and Captain Jack

We went boating twice while we were in Boise. Gretta and Eliza loved the tube. I am super impressed that Eliza even went by herself. I even took a trip on the tube with Gretta for old time sake. 

It was almost 100 degrees in Boise, so it was perfect boating weather at Lucky Peak. Gretta is dying to try skiing or wake boarding. She is going to have to wait until next year:( 

Eliza got a turn to try driving the boat too. 

Thanks Pops for a great time!!!!