WOW! It’s been a whole month since Caroline came home. We are finally getting into a groove. Things are starting to feel normal with her in the house and it’s with great joy that I realize that I am content. I never thought I would ever say that. It isn’t in my nature to be content, but for once I am. Just having my family all together. It’s an amazing feeling.
Ryan is doing awesome! He has his occasional bad days where he is very demanding and rude. We have discovered that with some quiet time in his room, he discovers ugliness isn’t the way to get attention. For the most part he is a perfect older brother. He gives her things when she cries, he plays with her. In the car, he entertains her, but then she yells at him when he stops 
hehe
Caroline is adjusting beautifully. She started sleeping in her crib on Thursday afternoon. She doesn’t need to be rocked to sleep anymore. Today I was able to give her a bottle and she got sleepy with it and I just put her in the crib and walked out. She fussed a bit but then fell asleep. I am SO glad we’ve come this far! She is generally a happy baby but when she wants something, you will see her temper if she doesn’t get it!! She is REALLY LOUD too! 
Caroline still wants to be held a lot, which is great because Ryan wasn’t a snuggler, but I don’t get anything done with just 1 arm. I have been putting her in the carrier on my back, then I can do dishes and laundry, however, my right shoulder started hurting yesterday and I think the carrier is the problem. I am going to give it a rest and hope that is what caused it.
On a different note: I can’t wait for SPRING!!!! I am SO ready to see some flowers and greenery again! I have noticed I don’t need to wear my house shoes and Linus sweater inside the house much anymore. It is definitely warming up. It’s supposed to be at least 60 today, so I think we need a walk down to the park. Caroline will ride in the stroller now if there aren’t a lot of people around. I need the exercise desperately!!
Here’s some photos of the boys at the zoo on Friday. We told them not to smile!
Here’s Ry getting a ride from Miss M across the street. She is definitely a crazy driver!
Enjoying the beautiful weather outside!
Here she is yelling about something.
Getting a special ride from Daddy!
My handsome little man!
I just LOVE these 2 photos. She is SO cute with a bow in her hair!!!
Ryan is very interested in arts and crafts projects now.
Okay, starting this week things have gotten easier. I imagine it’s because
1) she knows us better now and we her
2) she is officially on US time and is sleeping all through the night
3) she is starting to nap more (not on my chest) up to 1.5 hours total
4) Ryan is being an awesome big brother and learning how to help Mommy
5) We are getting into a routine
6) I am figuring out what all the noises she makes mean
7) I don’t have to carry her ALL THE TIME
Now Caroline is:
20 1/2 lbs
30 inches tall
A really good eater
Funny
Easy to please (once you figure out what she wants!)
Adores her Oppa (Ryan)
Doesn’t show a preference for doll/girl stuff over boy stuff
Crawling EVERYWHERE
Cruises as much as she can
Holds one finger (of yours) and will walk to what she wants by herself
Stands by herself for longer and longer times after pulling up on something
Tries to push herself to a standing position
Has 6 teeth (and drools a bit but not as much as Ryan)
LOVES to blow raspberries
LOVES the wind blowing in her face (sticks her tongue out)
Okay, I just had to post this. Mike just took this picture. Caroline actually napped this morning for a WHOLE HOUR! WOO! ON THE FLOOR! DOUBLE WOO! I was thinking, Rock and Roll! But no, this afternoon NO NAP again. She was SO crabby I put her on my back and started cleaning and doing laundry and what do you know? Here she is:
Isn’t she precious?
Mommy and Ryan went to see this awesome show together as some special bonding time. It was SO incredible. If you get a chance to see it, I highly recommend it. The tickets are outrageous, but it was totally worth it. You couldn’t use “flash photography” and I didn’t take my camera anyway, so Ryan did his own reinactment via duplo legos.
The last picture is of Caroline destroying his hard work! He was NOT happy! Welcome to the world of little sisters Ry!
This last photo is cute to me because she loves to try to open those drawers and Ryan was protecting them and she was hitting him to make him stop. He got the biggest kick out of it!
