18 months and sassy as can be!

Gracie and Courtney reached the ripe old age of 18 months on Saturday and Sunday. I think they believe they are 2 now and should be entering the terrible twos. Both have learned the word "No" and use it very often. Gracie usually shakes her finger along with her "no" and Courtney repeats it over and over again and it comes out more "naa, naa, naa" in a wailing sort of way. It's pretty funny how quickly they have learned no and how much they use it. Almost overnight! My favorite is when they try to tell each other no and neither will budge. Courtney has also perfected "mine." Her "mine" is very Southern sounding at this point "maaawn" and is used any time she has any object that she doesn't want to part with (or an object that she has just stolen from someone else and has now appropriated). I don't think her Southern accent will last since my sister-in-law in NC reports(after talking to me on the phone) that I have regained my Utah accent since the move to Idaho.

The girls have their 18 month check up on Wed so I'll give the status report then. I tried to take pictures this morning of the girls alone, but Courtney refuses to take a picture without her "bay-BEE" "bay-BEE." She is the biggest mother hen to Caroline and LOVES her so much. If Caroline cries at all, both girls run around the house saying "bub-bah, bub-bah" (our word for pacifer) and looking for it so they can put it in her mouth, even if she doesn't want it. If anyone else is playing with "bay-BEE" and Courtney can't join, Courtney throws a fit. This often happens if Courtney and Gracie are in their chairs eating and Caroline gets some floor time and the boys get done early. It is amazing how much she loves her "bay-BEE." Gracie likes Caroline too, but not to the level of Courtney.

The girls are playing more and more together and help each other out when they aren't fighting over a favorite toy. Today Gracie was sad because I couldn't get the fruit snacks open fast enough and ran away from me mad. Courtney was standing next to me so I gave her the first fruit snack. She took it over to Gracie and gave it to her. Moments like this give me hope! Gracie was very sweet on Saturday when poor Courtney was sick and throwing up. After Courtney threw up (one of the many times), Gracie brought over a towel and wiped her face off (we had already cleaned her up), but the action was so sweet.

Courtney is all better now...just a short 12 hour stomach bug. I had it first and we hope that it has now left the house! So enjoy the pictures of my big girls (the time has FLOWN by) and our baby girl.

Notes from Kirill and Alex--Kirill started soccer, Alex likes pre-school, their main passion in life is making certain the neighbors across the street, Teegan and Devy, are available to play.

Courtney shows her "eye" to her "bay-BEE"

Gracie pauses for a brief second. She loves to run, twirl and jump. Playing chase with Kirill and Alex is her favorite game.

The girls, not smiling but all looking in the same directions. Taken this morning. Courtney is about to "maawn" the bungee cord that Gracie is holding. Gracie stole it from the boys' room. Gracie loves to sneak into the boys' room and dig through their box of small plastic animals, matchbox cars and other treasures.

Guess who has the bungee cord now?

They do love each other. Gracie put her arm around Courtney just before this shot.