Parker + Jolie | 4 years

four.

FOUR YEAR STATS:
Jolie Grace // 41 inches (77th percentile) and 36 pounds 3 ounces (59th percentile)
Parker Jane // 42.5 inches (94th percentile) and 39 pounds 9 ounces (80th percentile)
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Parker and Jolie's fourth year has been a year of SO MUCH FUN.  they have gained a rather hilarious toolbox of words and phrases and the conversations we have just kill me with emotions that basically run the gamut of shock, grace, love, adoration, and hysterics. and they know how to use at the most opportune times to just knock me off my feet with the things they know.

Parker and Jolie visited the dentist for the first time.

had their first sleepover with baby Grayson.

danced in the bluebonnets.

Parker got b a n g s:)

we went to the ZOO! (one of many times)
..and our first Rangers baseball game for a big girls date night..
spent a week with their favs while mama + daddy took a trip

they rediscovered their LOVE of the water and swimming pool and we spent nearly every day this summer soaking in the sun.
painted bird houses with their hero..
swam the muddy waters and had the time of their life on Lake Nocona

swimming, family, friends, sparklers, and sun kissed cheeks- we celebrated an entire weekend of the 4th of July!

we celebrated our littlest sister turning ONE and went to the aquarium for the first time.
..and brought a new dog into our crazy mix!

they started preschool three's. and walked into school on the first day like they owned the place..

cool weather came upon us and the fall festivities began- many days spent at the pumpkin patch + the arboretum.

h a l l o w e e n.  was. THE best time spent with our little friends.
they spent some quality time with Nana + Duke..
..and went to the Texas State Fair for the first of many years to come!

these are just a few of the highlights over the last 12 months.  our life is so full.  with so much fun in between.  these sweet girls have made our world spin for the last four years- the good.  the bad.  the terrible.  

we couldn't imagine it being any other way.

you are f o u r!

Jolie Grace

my goodness, how much you have grown this last year.  looking back at pictures and watching videos, its just amazes me to see how your personality and intellect exploded.  not to mention your little face has nearly lost all the baby chub and innocence and you are quickly becoming a little girl right before my very eyes.  your vocabulary is full.  your understanding is impressive.  your organization and thought process through certain things is unique and much different than your twin sister's

you still wear your heart on your sleeve.  little things can absolutely break your heart, but a bit of silliness will bring you right back to your usual happy self.  when when you smile- my sweet girl, you smile with your entire face.  your eyes squint up and nearly disappear into your baby girl cheeks.. (they are still there if I look hard enough).

   I was overwhelmed with love for you from the moment you took your first tiny breath.  watching you grow from a little wee nugget into the marvel you are today has been the greatest, most fulfilling, most enlightening journey and the very, very best thing I have every been through.
you have overcome so many milestones that, looking back, are just unreal to remember on.

you remain quite the diva in this house- Baker gives you a run for your money when holding that title, but the moment you open your mouth with something abrupt or matter of fact, as you usually do, its crystal clear who has earned it- you carry it well, my sweet girl.  
you are pretty opinionated and mostly independent.
..and then there is bedtime you simply cannot go to sleep without seven sugars and eight hugs.
..and we have to count them out loud or they just do not count.  
"mom, you arent counting with me.  one..two..threeee.."
you definitely feel the need to speak your mind, and most of the time it has me and your daddy in giggles.  while your sisters would rather be outside running like crazy kiddos, you don't mind to chill out on the couch with a snack (you are all about the snacks!), cuddle with mama, and watch movies all day long. as long as you have Puppy, you are happy as a clam.. you have fallen in love with many little animals and dolls have come and go over this last year, but Puppy still remains number one. and that thumb sucking is still in full force.  someday we will have to break the habit. but not today. 

 you absolutely do everything with an exclamation point! your little life is an exclamation point. keep that up my sweet little love. your enthusiasm in life should be the way everyone should live the life we are given. and for that, I am so proud of you.  I thought I was here to teach you, but you are teaching me every day. I am so in love with you, birthday girl. 

Parker Jane

still my tomboy. still your daddy's right hand 'man'.  wherever he goes "I'm coming too!!"  

never ending and always your dad's favorite thing to hear.

it's hard to imagine what life was like before your funny lines, epic tantrums, and ear bursting screams took over our house. year three has been a year of growth and change and experience for all of us.  you have gotten stronger, smarter, funnier, and braver- and keep changing dramatically as the days go on.  you have become quite creative in your ways- making up stories as you go along and always excited to share them with anyone that will listen.  you have such a creative brain, building and creating and designing is what you do best.  your coloring and art work just keeps getting better and better- you are SO excited to show me your completed color pages, with the rainbow array neatly tucked within the lines of the image.  I am so proud of you.

your imagination runs wild- and you beat to the tune of your own drum.  I used to get frustrated with you for "not listening" or acting like you "dont care", but as we have both gotten to know the growing Parker over this last year, you are just taking it all in before you make a decision to move or act.  your teachers at school have said you are the observer.  you want to know about everything that is going on around you. this characteristic has developed into you having the most gentle and sweet and kind heart. always wishing everyone to be included.  your heart is bursting with love to share. 

Jolie is your best friend.  your rock. and the person you look to for support in everything. you have a keen love for that twin sister of yours and your bond grows stronger and stronger as the days and weeks and months and years go on.  
Baker is your little side kick.  she follows you everywhere and looks intently for you when you cannot be found. you always include her, even when she is destroying your building blocks or demolishing the feast you have prepared in the play kitchen.  she's always there, and you never mind.
you talk about "baby brother" all the time. you talk about how silly he is when he moves around in my belly and it broke me to tears the other day as you were helping me fold tiny baby boy clothes in his unfinished room and you touched my tummy and said "I sure hope he loves me.." 
of course he will, little love.
everyone loves you.

no matter how old you are, you will always be our sweet baby girls.

no matter what you do, we will always love you.

I am so incredibly proud to be your mama just because you sister girls are you.

you can be anything you want to be.

you are amazing in so many ways.

you girls have a laugh that is contagious- and I can hear it from miles away and know that its you.

you each have the most amazing personality that make both of you unique and so perfectly you.

you are incredibly talented in so many ways - coloring in the line, puzzles, billions of hugs, and double that in kisses, the busiest bees..running, climbing, singing at the top of your lung and dancing your giant little hearts out!  some of our most favorite moments of the day is listening to you two sing, play, dance, and just be together- your imagination is unreal.

my wish for you, my sweet sister girls, as you enter your fourth year of life, is that you will keep being my Jolie Grace + my Parker Jane. that you will keep dressing up like a princess, toting high heels and jeweled crowns, while chasing your daddy around the backyard looking for spiders and snakes and in the same moments harassing your mama for "haircuts" and playing beauty parlor. that you will continue your best friendship with each other, but still finding comfort in your independence that impress me every day.  

the characters can change to whoever you would like them to be, just don't stop pretending. keep telling your wonderful creative stories you tell. don't ever stop telling me all about your dreams when you wake and about your imaginary "family" that lives in a pink house with a pink mommy and a blue daddy and purple sisters and most recently.. a new baby brother has come into that imaginary family mix. keep laughing and smiling.

you two are the lead character in 4 years worth of the most colorful memories one can imagine.

we love you with all our hearts, big sister girls.  we are so excited for this next year that is to come!
happiest birthday to you our precious girls!

life lately // parker + jolie

I'm sitting here with a blank computer screen and watching Parker and Jolie consume their second and third popsicle in about eleven minutes and I realize that its been FORever since I did a little update on p+j.  my BIG girls.  at three and a half they have changed so much- especially in just the last 6 months since I've done one of these!  lots of life lately has included the littlest miss Baker.. and now with her birthday thats come and gone and the last month or more really gearing up towards the big day.. and her party.. I was in "..OMG she's ONE" obsession mode.

..and now I'm in the "OMG she's ONE" hangover.  

I feel like, over the last three years of being a mom, there was a tremendous change throughout their first year.  year two was sort of slow.. not a lot going on as far as the noticeable life changes, and now right in the thick of year three and holy mackerel.  I look as my kids and they are the tiniest giants.

whats new? .. aside from their daily jobs of being big sisters.

• their language has exploded.  things they know and say and DO.  half of me has no clue where they pick up these things!  but they are interacting with other kiddos more and pick up a lot from television for sure.
• speaking of TV.. we watch just an hour or a little more of television a day.  most of the time its right when they wake up in the morning and later in the evening before bed.  
• favorite shows: team umizoomi (Jolie's ultimate favorite), bubble guppies, pj masks, peppa pig
• favorite movies: finding nemo, wall-E, a bug's life, toy story (all of them!), lady and the tramp, inside out 
• they looooove to play make believe.  the other night they were playing 'mama + dadda' (which is their version of playing house) at lunch with their potato chips.  literally. 
• when they do play with toys.. they are really into little figurines.  barbies are fine, but they both lose interest really quickly in them.  Jolie especially really loves little dolls or my little ponies.  their BB bought them these mini lalaloopsy dolls (like these ones.. I have found them at walmart, too!) and we have a ridiculous collection now. mini my little ponies and palace pets are favorites, too! 
• they grew nearly TWO clothing sizes.  I swear there was awhile when I thought we were going to be in size 2T forever. but just after Christmas they hit a growth spurt and 3T was all we knew.. and now at the beginning of the summer I have stuck to buying 4T.  mainly for the length in dresses, tops and pants.  they can still wear the 3T in shorts because they are string beans.  Parker has these legs that go on for days and really takes after my side of the family (my 3 brothers are all about 6'5" and beam poles.)
• they are more self sufficient than I would expect. Parker has no problem at all helping herself to whatever food stuff in the pantry.  recently I found Parker on the couch with her third protein/fiber bar, half eaten.  I know there were three because the other two wrappers were shredded and sprinkled across the sofa.  later she was found on the toilet hollering "MOM!  my poo poo is CRAYZEE!"  it was crazy.  everyone would have crazy poo if they consumed 4 times to amount of fiber in one sitting than they should!
• ..and while we are on the topic of poop.. we have finally hit a point where the girls are taking themselves to the potty when we are at home.  after having a newborn at home and putting them on the potty with one hand while I balance a baby in the other was.. well.. it was annoying:)  they've been potty trained since they were about 20 months old, but we've still had to take them to the potty (turn on the bathroom light + help them get on the seat + clean them up) up until the last couple months.  I still get a little tickled when I walk by the bathroom and see a tiny human sitting on the potty all by herself. 
• they are much closer than they have ever been before. they LOVE each other so much and they will tell you that they are each other's best friend.. of course except the times when Jolie says cousin Kendall is her BFF.  those are also the times they fight like mad and the bickering is at an all time HIGH right now.  
• they have never been ones to sleep in the same bed or together much at all.. we moved them from the same crib when they were really little because we had to train Jolie to sleep on her weak side with her torticollis around 3-4 months and she basically screamed her head off.  So we separated them.  Recently they have been much more inclined to sleep together and often I find them in the same bed.  We've considered getting rid of the twin beds and putting them both in one large queen in their room.

E A T

Jolie will pretty much eat me out of house and home.  she loves everything and will nearly try something foreign at least once. she has a handful of things that she doesn't like- peanut butter and jelly (who is this child?!) and ketchup (again.. who is this child?!).  she prefers ranch dressing on everything and would eat turkey jerky and salami for every single meal if I let her.  she also asks for random things like chicken nuggets and goldfish crackers for breakfast. 

Parker is my picky eater.  she would rather snack all day long on granola bars and yogurt and chocolate milk.  she is a sauce fanatic and wants about three options on her plate when there is dipping involved. I still offer them "chocolate milk" twice a day- morning and evening and a lot of times the morning chocolate milk (carnation instant breakfast) suffices as their breakfast meal until about mid morning when they sit down to eat.  if you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that they've been drinking carnation for literally 2.5 years.  better than hershey's syrup and milk, right?  I appreciate that because it allows me to sit and peruse my favorite blogs and drink coffee first thing in the morning before i have to really 'mom' for the rest of the day.

7:30-8am: wake

 chocolate milk 

(1/2 packet of carnation instant breakfast + 8 ounces of skim milk/each)

9:30-10am: breakfast

protein english muffin + butter; spoonful of natural peanut butter + fruit (berries and banana usually)

instant oatmeal + yogurt 

sprouted toast with peanut butter + banana 

12pm: lunch

baked chicken nuggets + fruit + yogurt

deli meat + cheese + dry roasted almonds

turkey pepperoni (jolie) peanut butter + jelly (parker) + baked chips (like the wheat thins kind)

3pm: snack

goldfish crackers + dry roasted almonds OR peanut butter crackers OR granola bar

6pm-7pm: dinner

usually its whatever we are eating for dinner.. when its not..

mini homemade pizzas 

chicken nuggets or fish sticks

hot dogs

waffles + peanut butter

bean cakes with guacamole

as you can see we are creatures of habit. we eat a lot of variety but when it comes to things I know my girls will eat we have a handful of items that are basic go-tos.

S L E E P

omg.  where do I even start.  sleep sucks.  

basically. 

I make such a huge deal about Baker sleeping like a rockstar because I have dealt with and still deal with these two hooligans at all hours of the night.  I don't understand.  we have tried sound machines, nightlights, sleeping with the door open, door closed, lights on.. all of it.  everything.  

we did find that the "its OK to wake" clock worked the best..

until Parker told me that the clock was broken.  

well, no child.  the clock isn't BROKEN.  you are awake when the clock hasn't told you its OK yet.

its really hard not to laugh. no matter what time I put them to bed at night, Parker is awake at all hours and then for the day by 6:30am AT LEAST.  and then refuses to nap.  we don't take naps everyday, but we always have quite time laying in their bed with books or their baby dolls.  most of the time Jolie will fall asleep, but Parker rarely sleeps.  when we do nap, they'll sleep about 2 hours in the afternoon.  and then bedtime is about 7:30-8pm.

these girls are something else. 

Jolie is my girly girl.  compliments me on every outfit, makeup, jewelry, and especially my shoes!  she loves my shoes!  that girl has SO much love to give and tells me over and over about a million times a day how much she loves me while throwing her arms around my neck (and her dad, and parker, and baker, and BB.. you get the idea.)  I could not imagine my life without the joy that my Jo Grace brings me.  she and I spend a LOT of time together and I can only hope we remain this close as the years go on.  she has the most gentle soul on the planet- even keeled and reserved for the most part, and the happiest little girl I have ever met. 

Parker is all about her dad.  she's happiest outside, running around behind him and doing all the things a daddy's little girl would do.  she doesn't care about fixing her hair or playing dress up.  she wants her tool belt and her "go fast shoes" (her sneakers).  she's also bull headed and emotional and pretty aggressive.. which lands her spending a lot of minutes in time out.  my favorite thing about Parker Jane is that she is SO SILLY and her laugh is outrageously amazing.  I have so many moments of laughing until I cry with her.  Parker refuses to share her love and its turned into a game that when she asks for something she has to pay the price of at least ONE SUGAR (kiss).  she knows I want her to just say I love you, and she giggles at me and says "I LIKE you mom." and scampers off cackling her little head off. 

stinker.

they have turned into two completely different kids and I love them just the same.

my big girls. 

toddler essentials

hair bows

..and I'm back.  the combination of a quick work trip + sleep training my six month old had me exhausted last week, but well worth the last four days of her sleeping 7pm to 7am.  thats no joke.  more on that later:)

today I'm talking about toddler..err.. my three year old essentials + favorites!  I love these kind of posts and I haven't done one for the big girls in a long time.  things have changed as these girls have grown so much in the last year and out side of their constant move from favorite toy to their new favorite toy to the must have favorite toy..

tiny my little pony figurines aka ponytails and peppa pig rule our life this week.

b u t

these essentials remain in our every single day!

the nuby step stool makes my life so much easier when the big girls are in a panic for the potty and I am three minutes away from getting Baker to sleep for a much needed and prayed for afternoon nap.  this stool is used for everything- including turning on the bathroom light (or the playroom) and for helping get themselves situated on the potty without taking a dunk in the toilet.
I've talked about l'il critters gummy vites  (here) and we continue to love taking our gummy vitamins on a daily basis.  they usually take them in the morning with breakfast ...or if I forget (which happens often!) we take them with dinner.  just a little extra boost of nutrition, especially if its been a particularly off day and my babes are extra picky when it comes to mealtimes. Jo has become exceptionally sensitive when it comes to her skin.. which is so strange because Parker is the one with extra fare skin and we have taken a lot of care to make sure her skin is well nourished.. that being said- poor Jolie has had a hard time with random foods flaring up her eczema (mainly on her back and tummy) and we steer clear of pants and shirts that have a tag or panties with a thick elastic waistband- which, as a sidenote, brings me to another favorite- the carter's stretch panties are super soft, tagless and have zero itchy waistband for Jolie's sake.. 

..anyway, I had a fellow mama friend recommend california baby and when browsing their products I came across their eczema cream.  literally she sees relief within moments of application.
our pigtails have become a regular accessory and our favorite way to dress them up come from the lovely free babes.  she makes the most girlie and dainty hair clips (and bands for the littlest) and I LOVE them. the hand-tied look is so classic.  and her colors are amazing!
I cannot go without mentioning the oxo tot foldable booster.  We sold off the twins' highchairs we used for three solid years and traded them in for these big girl booster seats.  while I can appreciate how much room I have in my kitchen since we got rid of those two chairs and just have one + boosters, the girls love their new place at the table.
while we are talking about mealtime (sort of..) the camelbak eddy kids water bottle  and smart planet lunch box have been AWESOME favorites lately.  I mentioned these lunch boxes in my preschool favorites post right before the twins started school back in august, but we use them much more than just for school.  I take these to the park with snacks and or pack a picnic lunch for while we are out and about.  I just throw a coupe of these ice packs on the bottom and we are good to go!  they are also easy to use and for the girls to eat out of while we are in the car.  as far as the water bottles are concerned.. my kids drink a lot of water.  Jolie will down 3-5 bottles/day while Parker is more like two or three throughout the day.  I like these bottles because they hold quite of bit of water and will usually last us through a trip for errands or while the twins are at school.  they also fold shut and don't leak!  I do not look forward to being in the 'leaky sippy cup' stage with Baker... 

I know I didnt cover everything.. what are some favorites that you love for your toddler aged littles?

Parker + Jolie | 3 years

t h r e e.

People tell you that time flies by but until you have kids you don't understand it. You look at people like they are stupid when they tell you, "Don't blink. They'll be grown before you know it." But those silly people are right.  This last year has been among the most impressionable years of my life.  

one of the most challenging. 

one of the hardest.

one with the most maternal growth.

one of the most FUN.

THREE YEAR STATS:
Parker Jane: height 38.5 inches (75th percentile) // weight: 32 pounds, 13 ounces (61st percentile)
Jolie Grace : height 37.3 inches (55th percentile) // weight: 31 pounds (61st percentile)
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Parker and Jolie experienced a TON of firsts- even more so than their first year of life, might I add. They gained a rather hilarious toolbox of words they use at the most opportune times.
They mastered potty training.

Parker and Jolie were dedicated to the church among friends and family.

They got their first haircut. 

They had their first REAL experience with snow.

Stayed up way past their bed time.

Had sleepover's with Auntie + Uncle J.

Parker tossed the paci.

They learned to LOVE the water and we spent nearly every day this summer at the pool.

Swimming, sparklers, and sun kissed cheeks- we celebrated the BEST 4th of July, yet!

Graduated to big girl (twin beds).

They met their little 'brother'. 

..and then became big sisters just 24 hours later.

They started preschool.

They experienced their first fall festival and got their face painted..still talking about it to this day.

Cool weather came upon us and the fall festivities began- family fun at the pumpkin patch + the arboretum.

h a l l o w e e n.  was. THE best!  

These are just a few of the highlights.  Our life is so full.  With so much fun in between.  These sweet girls have made our world spin for the last three years- the good.  the bad.  the terrible.  

We couldn't imagine it being any other way.

Our big girls.  Still cannot believe they are THREE.

Jolie Grace 

My goodness, how much you have grown this last year.  Looking back at pictures and watching videos right after your second birthday its amazing to see how your personality and intellect exploded overnight.  You vocabulary is full.  Your understanding is impressive.  Your organization is that of your mamas.  After two solid years of seeing only your daddy in you, I am finally starting to see your mama in the things you do and the expressions that you make.

You wear your heart on your sleeve.  Little things can upset you and it takes lots-o-lovin to bring you back to smiles.  When when you smile- my sweet girl, you smile with your entire face.  Your eyes.  Your smile.  Your baby girl cheeks.  I hope they never go away. 

   I was overwhelmed with love for you from the moment you took your first tiny breath.  Watching you grow from a little wee nugget into the marvel you are today has been the greatest, most fulfilling, most enlightening journey and the very, very best thing I have seen.

You are quite the diva, pretty opinionated and mostly independent.  You definitely feel the need to speak your mind, and most of the time it has me and your daddy in giggles.  You tend to sit back and watch the world around you and take it all in.  You don't mind to chill out on the couch and watch movies all day long. As long as you have Puppy, you are happy as a clam.  You don't care to snuggle or give sugars freely, but when someone is hurt or crying the sincerest "You okay??" comes our of your mouth and we all know that you care so much.

 You do everything with an exclamation point! Your little life is an exclamation point. When you mean to do something you give it your all. Keep that up my sweet little love. Your enthusiasm in life should be the way everyone should live the life we are given. And with that, I am so proud of you.  I thought I was here to teach you, but you are teaching me every day. I am so in love with you. Time to stop growing.  

Parker Jane

My tomboy. My girlie girl.  If ever anyone thought that wasn't possible- oh.  but it is.  You are your daddy's right hand 'man'.  Wherever he goes "I'm coming too!!"  

It's hard to imagine what life was like before your funny lines, epic tantrums, and ear bursting screams took over our house. My oh my how you have grown this past year! 

You have gotten stronger, smarter, funnier, and braver- and keep changing dramatically as the days go on.  You have become quite creative in your ways- especially when it is bed time.  You wait until we've gotten you into bed and as we go for the door, the game of 500 requests start.  "I need a sugar!", "Sing twinkle twinkle little star, please.", "I want to sing to Jesus, next."..."How about ABCDEFG.  I like wike that song."

I have to go tee-tee.

I need more chocolate milk.

Rub my baaaack.

No covers.

Where is my Stuffy (stuffed dragon)!?

I don't want my Stuffy, only my wubby.

  25 minutes later you are satisfied enough and off to sleep you go.

You've kept your "I do it myself!" attitude and that makes me more happy and more frustrated than you'll ever know. I have no doubt you'll stop at nothing to get what you want in life and do what you want to do.. and there is something to be said about finding your ability to be 'great' at just 3 years old.

While you love me…you truly are Daddy’s little girl.  You admire him.  You look up to him.  You want to please him.  You listen to him.  When you want something, you go to him first because you can usually give him the adoring look and he will do anything for you.  You want him to hold you, you want him to play with you and you want him to give you the last kiss goodnight.  

No matter how old you are, you will always be our sweet baby girls.

No matter what you do, we will always love you.

I am so incredibly proud to be your mama just because you sister girls are you.

You can be anything you want to be.

You are amazing in so many ways.

You girls have a laugh that is contagious- and I can hear it from miles away and know that its you.

You each have the most amazing personality that make my girls unique and so perfectly you.

You are incredibly talented in so many ways - coloring, puzzles, hugs, kisses, building blocks, running, climbing, singing, dancing.. oh.  the singing!  My most favorite moments of my day is listening to you two sing together- "..yes Jesus loves me!.."

Our love for you is always there. Even when you do something wrong and you get in trouble - we still love you. That never changes.

My wish for you, my sweet sister girls, as you enter your third year of life, is that you will keep being my Jolie Grace and my Parker Jane. That you will keep dressing up like a princess, high heels and crown, while chasing your daddy around the backyard looking for spiders and snakes. That you will continue your best friendship with each other, but still finding comfort in playing alone.  The characters can change to whoever you would like them to be, just don't stop pretending. Keep telling your wonderful creative stories you tell. Don't ever stop telling me all about your dreams when you wake.  Keep laughing and smiling. Always believe you are "oh so preeety" because you girls are the most beautiful of them all!

You two are the lead character in 3 years worth of my very best memories.

We love you with all our hearts, big sister girls.  We are so excited for this next year that is to come!
Cheers to THAT!