September Photo Dump

Even though school had started, summer was still in full-swing during September (and often the hottest month of the year), so we still had some time to finish up our Summer Bucket List! September is usually the hottest month of the year, so we had plenty of opportunities to enjoy the beach and warm weather without all the tourists, who had gone home.

A life goal fulfilled! The twins were SO excited for their lemonade stand with Owen, Avery, Gavin and Lily! Lily sold slime, the twins sold lemonade and cookies, and the rest of the gang helped with advertising. All in all, the twins more than covered the cost of their supplies. 

During the summer, we were spoiled by various teen babysitters helping me with the girls. Bri came a few times a week to take the girls to the splash pad, pool, or park if it wasn’t too hot, and Emily and Ana took the girls on outings a few times a month as well. The girls loved hanging out with everyone and it was a lifesaver for me not having to take Eleanor out in the hot weather. When our high school/college babysitters went back to school, it was a little harder to get out to the splash pad without it getting too hot. Once in a while, we had a rare afternoon where it wasn’t too bad and we could go out to the splash pad! 

 

Eleanor became so interactive this month and had amazing head control for a 2/3 month old!

On a walk in her stroller bassinet. 

Park morning. 

After 4 weeks, Meredith’s knee was healed and she got her cast off! It was another 3-4 weeks until she was walking normally again, but she was a trooper.

Working on that head control. 

Meredith loves nursery and isn’t afraid to dish it out to the boys who steal her toys. According to one of the dad nursery leaders, “We don’t need to worry about Meredith. She holds her own.” 

Her friend, Greta, gets in her personal bubble a little too often!

Sheela held a little mom brunch one school morning and everyone clambered to be the next one to hold the celebrity baby. 

Meredith with Mango the bunny.

Eleanor’s head control was good enough to plop her in the high chair with the back tilted, and life instantly got easier. 

Sports Day at school!

Rock climbing and park day. 

Hello there.

Teamwork!

Lounging.

sept

Goal setting: baby style. See toy. Raise arm in general direction. Swat toy. Goal accomplished. 

Lunch and a walk in Dana Point. 

The twins worked so hard memorizing their lines for the Primary Program at church, but somehow, the Primary leader got them mixed up, and in the wrong order! So they ended up saying each other’s lines!

Sister bear.

Jake likes to take random photos with me in them. 

Samantha and Amelia are obsessed with climbing trees… foreshadowing! A few months later, Samantha ended up breaking a bone in her foot from this tree!

 

No idea why Sammy is wearing a bib. 

Tree climbing owies. 

It’s a good life being a baby!

Another random photo from Jake capturing storytime. 

More tree climbing. 

Baby gurgles!

Eleanor trying to make sense of all the crazy. 

This is why a typical walk to the park takes 2 hours. 

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Eleanor 2 Months

At Elle’s 2 month doctor’s appointment, the nurse couldn’t believe how much she had grown and re-checked her height and weight three times just to be sure! Eleanor was over the 100th percentile for weight and was in the 98th for height. Then, our pediatrician walked in and said, “She’s a Whitehead baby. Totally normal.” Eleanor is one huge baby, but not out of the norm for our family!

Height: 24 inches

Weight: 15 pounds

Photos by Sarah Arnoff. 

At around 6 weeks, Eleanor started to drop the middle of the night feed (1 or 2 a.m.) and at 8 weeks, she started sleeping through the night 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. consistently. She’s a star baby.

 

Baby Elle is our most smiley/giggly baby at such an early age. She loves to be held, danced with, tickled, swung, and to go for stroller rides. Her favorite is when all her sisters make silly faces, dance, and sing to her– she cracks up like they are the most hilarious people in the world.

Elle must know that she is #4 and has to go with the flow– she’s pretty chill and unfussy, unless she’s tired or hungry (we have that in common).

Showing off her triple chin.

From left to right: Meredith, Eleanor, Amelia, Samantha, Meredith again.

A chunk like her sisters!

Eleanor and her varied expressions:

Lots of love,

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Beach Cruisers, Tanks, and August Adventures

In August, the girls checked off quite a few items from their summer bucket list, and then some.

$2 movie matinee with a probably $20 ridiculously enormous bucket of popcorn:

Biking on the boardwalk in Newport Beach, riding the Balboa ferry and playing games at the Balboa Fun Zone:

Beach cruisin’

    


Sunburned and exhausted!

Once again, the twins picked out everyone’s outfits for church.

Outfit change and after church bike ride.

There was some kind of safety fair going on at the park and the girls had a blast checking out the fire trucks, police car, and an army tank.

 

Ready to report for duty.

It’s not summer without an outdoor concert.

Daredevils at the skate park:

Jake and the girls ran into Parker and Maple at Home Depot!

The kids made some cute bookends!

In case you’re wondering where pictures of Eleanor and I are on these outings, there are none! Jake took the girls on pretty much every one of outings the entire summer, giving Eleanor and I some much needed peace and quiet on the weekends!

All of our babies get baby acne around 6 weeks, and Eleanor was no exception 🙁

  

Most of our kids complained about tummy time, but Eleanor hardly seemed to care we were forcing her to strengthen those neck muscles!

 

Hanging out with her favorite baby friend.

  

Meredith loved meeting Marisa and being cuddled for hours!

        

Contemplating the meaning of life…

Hmmmm…interesting…

Lots of love,

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