Say Cheese

I'd like to think I'm a fairly low stress person, but when it comes to family portrait time, I'm not the coolest cucumber. Coordinating everyone's outfits for casual and formal, doing hair, timing it so no one is crabby or hungry, negotiating rewards for good behavior and smiles, choosing the poses to buy, all while staying calm is tough. Thank goodness for Jason and his what-ever-happens-it'll-be-fine attitude and his wonderful partnership. After only stopping once to nurse Lauren, one family wardrobe change and about 2 hours later we had some photos! I was thrilled with the results- gotta love Portrait Innovations. We were even close to our original budget. We're done....till next year! Enjoy.

A Great Week :)

This week we had a lot of fun visiting the Sanford Zoo, hanging out, and adopting another baby.. doll that is. :)

Everyone is great. Lauren is awake so much more and is really smiling and cooing. She typically gets up once a night but has those occasional nights when she's up a lot or sleeps 8 hours. With some adjustments to nursing she's now spitting up a lot less and it's great!

Valla is getting pretty excited to start First Grade in a few weeks and is trying to decide which backpack to choose, big decision for a 6 year old. She finished her second horse chapter book and is now asking how much horses cost- uhhhh- too much!

Natalie had a BIG week. After a few days of positive reinforcement aka "Natalie's No Suck Thumb Chart" she has officially stopped sucking her thumb!! We are so proud of her. She also went to the special doll store to adopt a baby as an early birthday present from Nana. She was so proud. Judy's Dolls in Longwood is set up like a real nursery and Judy puts on quite a routine to make the "mommy" feel real.

After many days of trying to catch Lauren cooing and "talking" I finally got a good video! Valla is off to the right. And yes, her diaper is too big- she's between size newborn & 1!

(You can always click on any photo for a larger version.)

Zoo & Splashpad Photos-
Riding the train.

Valla enjoying the water.

Natalie cooling off.

Val, Mary, Lauren, Niki, Will, & Natalie eating snowcones.
Adoption Photos
Natalie filling out the necessary paperwork.

The adoption nursery- Do you see a familiar face? Lauren fits right in!Weighing the newborn
The proud new mommy with new baby, Sara.

The "No Suck Thumb Charts" and Natalie
Mary painted Valla to look like a rabbit- pretty cool huh!
7 week old Lauren

6 Years & 6 Weeks

Vallarie is 6 years old & Lauren is now 6 weeks. Could six years really have passed since those first few exhausting weeks with my first baby?

I learned how to be a mom with Valla. N & now L have had the benefit of V being the guinea pig of my parenting. I know it's normal, but I feel bad she doesn't get the benefit of experience. To balance it, she does get to be the first at most everything.

V is no longer a baby or even a little kid. At 6 and a half she's a full throttle kid. Last weekend we went to Hollywood Studios (always known to me as Disney MGM Studios) and much to my surprise rode some BIG rides. She braved the Rockin' Roller Coaster with me and Tower of Terror with her dad. She did great! She screamed her head off and said she hated it, but that they were fun. This week she read her first chapter book all on her own. She is so proud of herself, as am I. :) She's also addicted to Wii Fit!!

This week's Natalieism: L was scrunching up her forehead and it looked very wrinky, Natalie comments, "Look at her brains!"

Check out Natalie changing Lauren's diaper... all by herself. (Stop the music first to hear the sound on the video.)



Natalie at New Smyrna Beach- look VERY closely and at the correct angle to see her name written in the sand.

Natalie took this photo.

3 Cheers for Lauren, last night she slept from 9:30pm to 5:00am!!

Messy Baby Days

I really forgot how messy babies are. Between what seems like massive amounts of curdled milk spit up, diaper blow outs, peeing on her clothes during diaper changes, and a few impressive episodes of 3 foot poop shooting when she's naked (I'm not exaggerating), the poor thing doesn't stay clean or smelling fresh for long! V, N & I have made a game of it by declaring Messy Baby Days when little L has had a particularly messy day.

L has decided she likes to be in the thick of things and naps the best when she's in the family room surrounded by the sounds of her noisy sisters. When I put her down in her bassinet in our room, she's up within 20 minutes or so. Luckily she seems to get the idea that we all go to sleep at night and sleeps well.

Funny things I've heard from my girls the past few days:

• We visited downtown Orlando to meet Dad for lunch and as Natalie watched the sidewalks fill with lunch patrons she says, "This is were all the works are." I asked what do you mean 'works'. She says, "You know where everyone comes to work, the works!"
• N overheard me say I found thirty dollars in my pocket and replies, "we are not dirty daughters in your pocket."
• Valla said something that made me laugh out loud and of course I've already forgotten it!!!

We've had such a great time visiting with friends and family while living in Lake Mary these past few weeks. It's going to be really hard to go back to Gville, but knowing we'll be back in the Orlando area in only 9 months or so makes it easier.

4 weeks already?!

Lauren Grace is now 4 weeks old! It's gone by so fast. She is just shy of 8 pounds and still has a very easy going temperament. She gets up to eat around 2am and then 6am. She's starting to stay awake for longer periods of time, but still sleeps about 20 hours a day. The poor thing spits up a lot, but doesn't seem to hurt when she does. She loves to be cuddled and sleeps well when she's swaddled and comforted by rolled blankets.

Today I saw her first real smile. I was changing her diaper and she looked me in the eye and gave a genuine grin. It was so cool! :) I can't wait for V, N, & Dad to get smiles from her as well.

Enjoy the photos! - Jen

Lauren's biggest fans!

The Boffey's are true Gator fans!
We visited Gatorland and took our new favorite family portrait:)

Can you find the hotdog?

V & N have discovered the effects of sleeping in sponge rollers and pin curlers! Here are the before and after pixs!

3 college roommates + 12 years later= 8 kids among us!

Happy 4th of July!

Mom holding her little one.

Johnny 5(on the right) is a very dear baby doll of Valla's. Check out L's reaction to him!