Carlson Update

Phew! Hard to believe little Caroline is already 3 weeks old! We feel like it was just yesterday that we were coming home from the hospital - boy, so much has changed since then! Caroline continues to be a good baby and is sleeping about 3.5-4 hours at night before waking up for her early morning feeding. We've gotten used to this however and after going through it first with Ella, the second time isn't so bad...really! Ella is the ever so doting big sister, too - unfortunately, we really have to watch her around her little sister, though. She LOVES to hold Caroline and the problem is, she also LOVES to pick her up! Yikes! No accidents (yet!) but we're trying to teach Ella that she needs to wait for Mommy or Daddy before treating Caroline like her baby doll! She likes to help us with in all aspects of caring for Caroline; sometimes this is "helpful" and sometimes, well....not so helpful. For example, giving Caroline a bath involves finding a balance with Ella so that she can help bathe her sister but not drown her sister at the same time. Ha!

Aside from her big sister "duties," Ella continues to develop in many ways; she's really starting to talk now and is stringing three words together all the time now. Her ability to recall things is amazing, too - for example, we'll put on a pair of shoes that Tim bought her recently and she'll say "Ella shoes, daddy!" She is also mimicking us in many ways. The other morning, she walked into the kitchen pushing her doll in the stroller with her purse over she shoulder saying to Erika "bye, bye mommy!" When asked where she was going, she replied "Work!" She is also such a sweet little girl (although we've been saying that since the day she was born!); the best is when she surprises you with a kiss or will come up behind us to rub our back and or gives us a hug or now, she's really into playing and stroking with Erika's hair. Now don't let all this paint the perfect picture of our little Ella; ask her how she plays with her friends and she'll say "I push" and make the movement with her hands! That little stinker! Lastly, she's starting to count! Erika is super proud and it's so, so, so neat to see things come together for her. Everyday is something new!
Well, here are a few pictures to summarize the past few weeks!

First day home with Caroline

Erika with her two little girls

Whoa! This was a surprise to us the first time she did this - when did she learn this?!?!

Second morning home with Caroline- Miss Bed Head checks in on her little sis

Sweet Pea

Family portrait at Caroline's first doctor's appointment - she is 4 days old

All curled up

Visit from the grandparents! First weekend with Caroline.

First sponge bath for Caroline - notice Ella helps and bathes her "baby" too!

Ella giving Caroline a bottle (in the middle of her pool time!)

A visit to Reston Zoo!Wagon ride!

Sleepy little Caroline

Enjoying an afternoon out and about

Miss Bed Head again holding Caroline

We spent an whole afternoon on a long walk, a trip the playground, and a picnic in the grass!

Daddy and Ella playing in the grass

Ella wears her Big Sister shirt from her great Aunt Tonya (holding Caroline....starting to see a pattern here!???)

So awake and alert - good thing this wasn't at 2am!

Getting ready for Caroline's first "real" bath - Ella is all ready to be little miss helper!

And finally, taken tonight. And yes, we normally fully clothe our children but she had just spit up all over her shirt. And no, Erika still hasn't learned to have a burp cloth on hand at all times!