Virginia turns 3

It has been a while since last posting and quite a bit has changed in the last 2 months. Virginia is able to do so much on her own these days, she has really turned into a little girl. She enjoys painting, playing with her friends, reading books with us, practicing her letters, and singing. She has been sleeping in her "big girl bed" for the last few months and every morning we can hear her pitter patter down the hall to our room to tell us that it is "awake time!"  The end of January we took Amelia and Virginia to "Disney on ice." Virginia still talks about eating popcorn and seeing the crocodile eat "Hook, Capt'n Hook!" Virginia and I had a nice time at the Valentine's Day tea where she got Zee. He hardly leaves her side and is now a part of the ever growing group that sleeps with her every night. Pretty soon she won't be able to fit in her bed since all the stuffed animals and blankets take up most of the room.











Taylor and I took her down to the Boston Children's museum one Saturday and she had a great time sorting the shapes, playing the steel drums, playing hairdresser and working in the construction zone. I think her favorite was seeing Arthur and all his friends. (She had to take a picture with each of them separately!) 

This was the month of birthdays in the Marschner clan. Grandma and Granddaddy both had birthdays and Virginia turned 3! She had a pinkalicious birthday party with all her friends. Everything was pink... from the balloons to the cupcakes and frosting. She had no trouble this year blowing out the candles on her own. The following weekend Grandma Rae Rae and Aunt Lizzy came for a visit and Virginia enjoyed another birthday with the family. This time she opted for chocolate cake and chocolate icing. You can kinda see my belly in the picture of us walking around the loop. I am now 24 weeks along! We had our ultrasound a few weeks ago and things looked good... we decided not to find out what the gender is. I have been feeling great and starting to feel lots of kicking. The week of Virginia's birthday also ended my 8 years with the NH Public Health Labs. I am now at home full-time and trying to do as much with Virginia before the baby arrives. It was sad to leave the Children's Center since we had not so long ago just gotten over her being sad all day there. She was doing really well there, but she is looking forward to doing things with Mommy and getting ready for Preschool in the fall. My first week home with Virginia had us doing lots of new activities such as story hour at the library and a trip to the NH Children's Museum with her friends. We had a great week and we couldn't be happier. I just had to post this video of Virginia singing the Peanut butter song she learned at story hour at the High School. I think it is really funny.  We are looking forward to an upcoming trip to Florida next week to see all the Disney characters!

Happy New Year!!

Sorry for the long hiatus, things have gotten hectic here in Wolfeboro. At 14 1/2 weeks pregnant, I am exhausted and at every spare moment I take a nap :) Virginia (a.k.a. Leah... she has now changed her name) is now in a big girl bed and trying to keep her in her bed for naps and nighttime has been a treat. Needless to say I try not to be on the computer when she is in bed since it is right outside her door. She continually whispers to me "Mommy... what are you doing?", "Mommy... I am hungry.", "Mommy, where is my blankie?", "Mommy... I need something to drink.", "Mommy.... I need to use the potty!"....





We had a great Christmas and New Years! We found our Christmas tree with the Hayfords at a tree farm... a little too cold to tromp through the State Forest this year. We had a relaxing Christmas morning at home with Grandma and Granddad. Virginia opened her first present which was a flashlight and didn't want to open anymore presents. However, she was pretty excited to receive a baby doll from Santa and a highchair and cradle from her Grandparents. Taylor built her a dollhouse and although it was not yet completely finished, she loves it and plays with it everyday. It was worth all those late nights in the basement.






























Virginia has been doing lots of winter activities with Taylor and I. Cooking and playing inside are always fun, but we went bowling for the first time with her friends and Virginia beat both boys!! She was the only one to get a strike... I was so proud. She loves to be outside in the snow and has quite a taste for it. She plays on her playground, sleds down the driveway and has been learning to x-country ski and skate. What a difference one year makes!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Virginia... couldn't beat the warm 50 degree weather compared to the snow up here! We first stopped by Dan and Maria's to visit Sandra Rose (5 weeks)... too cute! You forget how little and light newborns are. Virginia was a great rider, read lots of books and was very excited to stay in a hotel on our way down... especially since her Daddy pushed her around on the baggage cart.
She had the best time playing with her cousins Sidney, Shelby and Ian at Grandma Rae Rae's house. To this day she talks about pushing strollers, doing puzzles, taking care of their babies, and coloring at the small table with them. Taylor and I were even able to sneak out 2 nights and watch movies at the theater! What a great trip!

Happy Halloween!

We had a pumpkin running around our house along with a knight and pirate before letting them loose in the neighborhood for Halloween. We visited about 5 houses before they were tired and cold... time for bed! Virginia loved her pumpkin costume and actually kept the hat on the whole time we were trick or treating... (I think the cold had something to do with it!)



















We also had a wonderful Saturday afternoon with our friends and their families for our annual Thanksgiving dinner. These are the best pictures I got of all the kids together... they kept moving around so much! I just had to post the picture of Sam, love the face! You will have to check out Jamie's blog for better pictures of the kids.

This past month we had a visit from Grandma Rae Rae and were able to go to Vermont and see the Taylor family. It was really nice to see Ruthie, Aaron and Jen from Florida and visit with Rhonda, Mel and Mckayla. Since Obama won the election, I had to upload this picture of me with Michelle Obama from last winter... I look a little wide eyed, but I have a picture of me chatting with the future First Lady!

Virginia and I went for a hike on Columbus Day with Grandma and Granddad to Tumbledown Dick. The foliage was beautiful and the views from the top were worth the hike. That weekend we also enjoyed dinner night with friends ... the kids carved small pumpkins for Halloween and they had a great time making a mess in the garage.








The big news from our house is the newest addition in our backyard. We finally did it and purchased a swingset from Rainbow Direct. It was well worth it ... Virginia is out on "her playground" everyday and there hasn't been a day that a friend doesn't pop by to play on it too. Virginia of course loves the swings and I especially like the slide... very fast!

Fall has arrived with apple picking, the start Virginia's school year activities and playgroup. She started at the Children's Center after vacation and is adjusting to activities there. We enjoyed a visit from Christine, Liz, Sidney and Shelby earlier this month. The girls had a great time together... playing dolls, taking a dip in the pool, running around the house with their strollers and screaming at the top of their lungs ... It was a lot of fun. I still couldn't tell you which is Sidney or Shelby in the picture ... I had to rely on their shoes most of the weekend. They were adorable and we can't wait to see them again.