Day 347

Penelope is showing us lots of new things lately... Something new each day, it seems. Today she showed me a new dance move (to the rhythm of the washer machine :)), and she said "Mommy". I think it was on accident, or she couldn't figure out how to say it again, but it was so so sweet. :')

Out girl is growing so fast, I wish we could slow it down a bit! I'm so proud of her, how smart she is, and just so darn cute! That's all... Just love my little Penelope! 

Goodnight.

Day 346

Penelope stayed at home with Aunt Holly & Lily while Mama, Daddy & Luciana went house hunting again, and from what I heard, they all enjoyed their day. :) They went to the park, and watched Grease-- what a fun day! I'm always a little guilty leaving P, but I wasn't today-- she really had fun, I could tell. She always does , weather it's any of her aunts, or grandparents. We're lucky to have help during all this house selling/hunting time. 

Here's a few pics from P's day, goodnight! 

Day 345

Penelope is definitely teething! My poor baby is getting three molars at once, and surprisingly, she's handling it pretty well! I've only had to give her Tylenol twice in the last week... I'd say that's pretty good! :) She is growing like a weed, getting taller and chubbier, and I can gauge it pretty easily by how fast she's outgrowing her clothes! Shoes, too... Good thing she just got lots of new stuff for Christmas!

That's all for today. No pics, but maybe tomorrow I'll do better! :) Goodnight!

Day 344

We went on a walk after our house was photographed for the realtor website, and we were all super relieved it was over. Lots of cleaning had us all on edge! Penelope just put on her shades and relaxed....

Later, she went to Trader Joe's with her Daddy, and we all had a late dinner. She & I took this pic while we waited for the chicken to be ready:

What a long day... Everyone's tucked into bed now. I think I'll join them!! Goodnight.

P.S. Proof that P was pooped (heehee), she went to sleep tonight without a peep! Just like the old days... Sigh. We miss those days. I hate hearing my baby cry at bedtime :/

Day 343

Penelope had a very exciting day today. We had lots going on: getting our house cleaned & de-cluttered, and had a tile cleaning company out to do their thing, and P just loved all the activity. She went with her Aunt Holly to the park while Mama took Luciana to the doctor (and Daddy was cleaning the whole time!!) Later, she followed Tom & I around while we cleaned, and even helped me take all the ornaments off the Christmas tree. :) I'd take one off and hand it to her, and then she'd wait for me to say "put it in the box" before she would. I must've said that sentence 50 times! :) I wanted her to be able to help, and it was also a way for her to finally get a chance to touch the ornaments! She was SO good the whole month, not touching them, she deserved it, and handled it very well! :) What a good kid. 

No pics today, folks, but tomorrow is another day. See ya then. ;)

Day 342

Penelope's Merry Christmas Day:

1. Woke at the crack of dawn. Mama put the kibosh on that, though. Warm milk & a clean diaper gave us all an extra 45 mi items of sleep :)

2. Learned those pretty packages under tree were meant to be ripped open! She got the hang of it. 

3. After opening a few awesome toys (thanks for the cool wooden box puzzle, Mana!), P played with the wrapping paper and plastic packaging :/

4. Ate a yummy yummy Christmas morning breakfast that Papa made: chocolate chip waffles!! Seriously: YUM.

5. Fought her morning nap. I get it, we were all in a fun, playful mood & having a great time... She didn't wanna stop playing. :( She only got about 30 minutes. 

6. Rush around cooking, baking, packing, showering, dressing, etc.

7. Yummy turkey dinner at Mana's!! We were supposed to host Christmas dinner, but with all the house stuff we have going on, she offered to do it at her place... We couldn't be more grateful! :)

8. Got back home around 5 in time or a bath & half hour of playing with Mama & Daddy. We had so much fun with our sweet girl today! She had fun too, I think... Merry Christmas, Penelope! You're sleeping like a Yule log tonight. ;)

P.S. no trouble going down at bedtime tonight... Our little elf was pooped. :)

Day 341

Merry Christmas Eve! Penelope was in a strange, whiny mood today... But I am chalking it up to that darn molar coming in. We began de-cluttering the house today, and P was running around the garage & yard while we worked. She learned how to dust, so that's good. :) She's still too young to understand what Christmas is, but we are still excited to se her open gifts tomorrow morning. 

Oh! I brought out her old bouncer chair for Luciana to use, and she decided she wasn't quite done with it. (See pix)

This morning, P went grocery shopping with Papa in his truck... She loves going anywhere with her Daddy, so I know she enjoyed herself. 

Well, this blog post is all over the place, and out of order, so I'll do us all a favor and try to get some sleep. We're all going to Mana's for Christmas dinner tomorrow afternoon, so I should have plenty of pics to post. Oh, but check out Mama's cookies!!! :)

Goodnight.

Day 340

Penelope had a busy day with Mama today. We had a list of things to do, and we got them all taken care of, and P managed to keep it together pretty well! :) While we were at Target, she was talking loudly while she sat in our cart-- it was pretty cute. She always catches the eye of passers by, and smiles. She wins hearts left and right, let me tell ya!! :)

Earlier in the day, she was playing in Mama's robe. Here are a few pics. Goodnight!

P.S. I cannot wait to show P what fun Christmas is-- it's almost here!!!! :D

Day 339

Since Mana watched P while we house hunted, I don't have pics. We were exhausted when we came home, so we really just hung in there with Penelope, waiting for her bedtime. :/ 

Mana said she was well behaved, and that they had a good time. I know they went to the park, and that P napped well. :) We are all going to miss having Mana so close by.... :( 

Here's a pic of baby girl from a couple days ago, sporting her new jammies (Target had a great clearance rack last time). In the bottom pics, P is lying in Baby Luciana's rock & play-- that isn't hers anymore, we were just playing. :) 

Night!

Day 338

Penelope enjoyed visiting Papa at the fire station today-- we went on short notice, and had fun, we also just needed to see Daddy because its been too long. :) They had tons of toys there from donations, and P played with this bike that was really cool.... We may have to get her one! She slept on the car ride home-- NEVER HAPPENS. So awesome! 

Pics are of sweetheart with one of her sister's receiving blankets on her head. This morning we were playing and this was a popular game. :)

Tomorrow P will stay home with Mana while we go house hinting, I'm sure they'll have a great time! Night.

Day 337

My daughter is the sweetest thing, I swear! She does the cutest things, makes the funniest faces, and "talks" all day long! So, today Penelope came out of her shell and made friends with our friend (and realtor who is selling our house), and for a tile cleaner guy too! Also, she's back into kisses-- yay! She'll give me little smooches, and it's just heaven to smell her and hold her close. :)

Here's a few pics of P in a Santa hat, mugging for the camera with Mama. Goodnight!

Day 336

We had a cozy day inside today while it rained. Penelope didn't go too crazy, because I had to get out to the grocery store, so she got a bit of fresh air. While we were out, we dropped her buddy Viola's belated birthday gift off-- we missed her party last weekend. :/

We watched the rain, we tried coloring again, we played in P's little kitchen, and we played records & danced-- I think P had a good day! :) Also, she's learning how to gently touch her sister. She's making progress, but we still keep a close eye on her. 

Here's a blurry pic of my baby love-- she walked around all day in her Baby Fire Chief hat, I love it!! 

Night. 

Day 335

We packed diaper bags & snacks, tucked the girls in carseats & went looking at houses & neighborhoods today! We had always had moving to a bigger house in our future plans, but just decided that the time was right now! :) We know its the right thing for our family & feel great about this adventure. We are so excited, Thomas & I, to be starting a home together, a new home that's chosen with our girls in mind, something they'll grow up in. :)

We looked in South OC, but we aren't decided exactly where yet. We are happy with the prospects in our budget so far, and are surprised at how pretty and roomy they are! 

Penelope behaved pretty well, considering she was in the car all day without her nap! She did whine and cry, but stopped when we really told her to. She fell asleep on the drive home... It was a LONG day for our sweet girls. :/

Goodnight! 

Day 334

Well, Penelope is growing and changing very fast these days. One thing that's changed is her sleep habits. She used to go straight to sleep at nap time and bedtime, no fuss at all. Now, sadly, she cries, or yells, talks and does anything but sleep for long periods before she actually sleeps. :/ We're hoping its a phase. 

Today I tried to show baby girl how to color using crayons! It was fun, and she liked it, but she hasn't quite grasped it just yet. :) We'll keep trying, though, out baby is super smart, and I know she'll get it soon. 

Goodnight!

Day 333

Penelope had a fun day, we went to the park to play, and after dinner we took her to look at the Christmas lights on Balboa Island. :) She has so much fun at the park now-- she goes down the slide, big slides, all by herself! Later, when we got to Balboa Island to see the lights, Penelope was a little tired, but she still enjoyed herself. :) We kept looking at her to see if she was really looking at the lights, and she was! I think Christmas is a mystery to her still, but those lights sure aren't! She was wide-eyed and amazed. :)

Here's a few pics... Night!

Day 332

Daddy's home again, and Penelope couldn't have been happier! :) We had a quiet day at home today, and except for a quick walk around our neighborhood, we were at home. 

We measured P on the doorway that we marked her height on, on her birthday and found she grew about an inch! :) Our girl is getting SO BIG! 

Here's a couple pics of P eating a snack... Our little cutie pie, can't get enough of her funny little face!

Night!

Day 331

Here's Sunday's post:

Grandma & Grandpa Rodriguez left our house today... :/ We had them for four days, and really enjoyed our time together. But, before they left, we did a few things they can't enjoy in Michigan: went to the beach (sunny Sunday!) and (yesterday) had In N' Out burgers. :) Penelope really enjoyed playing with her grandparents, and getting reacquainted. We'll miss them lots. :/ 

Oh! Penelope got a play kitchen from her grandparents-- she loves it!! Here's a few pics from our day. 

;)

Day 330

Penelope had a fun day today-- she's loving playing with her grandparents, and is behaving so well, but that's how she is. :) Today Mama & Grandma Rose did some Christmas shopping for Penelope. Mana have her a Children's Orchard gift card, I chose some cute clothes, and Mana will wrap them up for her to open! :) Later, Mana came over to say hi to my parents and P got to have a short visit with her. Penelope is having lots of fun with all the love she's getting, lots of laughing and playing, and I know she'll miss them when they leave! :/ 

We are having good days, but are missing Daddy who will be home Sunday. Anyway, here's a pic of our cutie pie, she wanted to lie in baby sister's basket! Night!

Day 329

Ah, what a fun day! We started off with a big batch of Daddy's chocolate chip pancakes (and blueberry, but come on, chocolate!!). After P's nap, we all went to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch and to play-- they have a big arcade-like area, and Chuck E. Cheese also makes a real appearance! We had a blast, even Daddy had fun, and he was sure he wouldn't. ;)

We are enjoying having Grandma & Grandpa in town, especially Penelope. They are just having the best time playing together. :) We're going to miss them!! We'll have to plan a trip to see them sometime in the future (meaning, when we're brave enough to fly with kids, again). After Mom made us dinner, we did some holiday baking, and just hung out while Daddy was at school-- his last class of the semester, woohoo! :)

Here are a few pics of P today... Night!