What the big girls have been up to...

While there have been rough times trying to figure out the needs of Keara and Taryn and what I'm missing with them, there have also been so many wonderful days, moments, and memories. It's been fun seeing them grow up a lot in the last 6 weeks (can you believe it's been that long already!). Yes, it's still warm enough to run in the sprinklers...this was last week. Thank goodness, though, for no more days over 100 degrees!

Keara started sleeping at the door every night. One day, Taryn figured out how to get out of her bed (she hasn't been able to because of the railing). So she joined Keara on the floor. It was very difficult to get into the room to put them back in bed...I love seeing Taryn becoming such a big girl. Speaking of, I can't tell you how much she is talking. It's amazing!!! She's hilarious, though the phrase I hear way too much right now is "No! I don't want to!"

Keara loves Avery so much and still begs to hold her every day. She loves choosing her clothes and helping change her diaper. She's very good at burping her too, always succeeding at getting the difficult ones to come.

I'm a little concerned, however, at how bold and confident she is getting. No matter how many times we tell her to not stand up with Avery, she just can't resist the temptation. I was nervous, but knew she would be so careful that I felt comfortable enough to grab the camera... I love this picture...Taryn's imagination is really growing. She is a crack up!!!

These girls are really such great friends...when they aren't fighting. I love moments like these.

Keara is SO good. Here she is reading stories to both her sisters. I love it!

Big shoes to fill...

I love having 3 girls! I can't tell you enough. The other day, I was at an appointment and the girls were getting restless after an hour in a small room right around lunch time. I asked this gal who I was working with if she had any kids. She said she didn't and said that she never wanted any and that her job (where she is surrounded by kids every day) convinced her daily that her decision to never have kids is right. I wish I had borne a stronger testimony to her of how amazing it is to be a parent. But all I could really get out was "You have no idea what joys you are missing." Yes, it is challenging. Yes, I want to pull my hair out some times. Yes, I sometimes have the song "Little Girls" from Annie running thru my head. Yes, I sometimes beg the girls to leave me alone. Yes, sometimes I wonder if Taryn will EVER grow out of her craziness. But the other moments, the other amazing blessings of being with these girls truly outweigh the hard times. At the end of the day when I see them sleeping peacefully in their beds and in the morning when they so happily come bounding into my room, I feel my heart swell with gratitude for them. I love them all so much.