Sweet Baby Josie

Everyone called her a "Miracle Baby" for surviving birth with a cord tightly wrapped around her head and neck SEVEN times...and she came out crying, still! We're so glad you're safe and healthy, baby girl!
(p.s. I would still think you were a miracle regardless of your birth story.)

I was so glad to meet you over Memorial Day weekend. I miss you greatly already. I can't wait to hold you again!

Updated Family Photos

Josie's arrival meant a family get together. And now that there is another person in our family, what a better excuse to update all our family photos! (Who are we kidding? I do this EVERY time we get together, not just when there is a new baby. Oh well.)

Here is the new Wescott family!

Here is the new Grandparent/Grandkid picture. (Notice that they--meaning all the kids--are ALL girls!)

 ALL the girls

Cousins! (Yup, this is the best we could do...my kids were both screamin.)

Sister pic holding our babies. 

We didn't get an entire family photo. We were going to do that when we went out to eat but it was raining and way too crazy to try and do it. Next time we're all together we will try again. 

Drive to Toldeo

So the drive to Toledo was 10 times better than our last trip. Gabby was great almost the whole time. YAY!!!! Such a difference.

This is my favorite picture from the drive up. She loves her bear, Bruce! And now I finally have a good picture of the two of them together.

 Brooke loved her new magnadoodle toy she got for this trip. I don't know why I haven't gotten this yet, it's the perfect travel toy. Also notice how many toys are on top of Brooklynn. That is how she likes to travel. First she piles all of her favorites on top of her, then continues to put stuff on top of that. I guess it's all easy to access...

 This picture of Brooke cracks me up...and it's how I feel about the long drive sometimes, too.

 This is Gabby drinking a bottle. I'm still so amazed at this feat since Brooke refused a bottle until she was a year old. 

 Look at those big brown eyes. What a pretty girl.

Just before Pittsburgh we gave Brooklynn her milk to drink in the car because it was close to bedtime. And about 15 minutes later she threw up. (Yup, all over her and all those toys. It wasn't pretty.) We have really bad luck with her drinking milk IN the car...I think that will be the last time we let her. I think it's something with the motion and the drinking...gross. 

Matching Outfits

Thanks for the matching outfits, Aunt Charity and Uncle James! The girls look precious in them! We tried REALLY hard to get a cute picture of them. This is the best one out of about 20 shots.

More Zoo Fun

Here are some pictures from about 4 different trips to the zoo. Almost every time I forget my camera but I've been trying to remember it more. We went twice last week and of course Brooklynn wanted to go again today. So maybe again, tomorrow? We're trying to get all our zoo time in before it's swelteringly hot.

Dirty, dirty feet. I was nursing Gabby and Brooke decided to take her shoes off and run around in the flower beds and grass. I didn't feel like stopping her. Sadly, her feet are just about this dirty EVERY day when her shoes actually stay on.

Sadly the picture on the left is not even an exhibit for the vultures...they are just there hanging out with the eagles.

Checking out the ducks.

Rita and Isa joined us one of the days. What a good time we had! I think Isa's favorite animal was the alligator.

The new butterfly exhibit they tell you every time to watch your step and not to touch the butterflies. Brooklynn always says, "Butterflies...TOUCH!" She wants to touch one SO BAD. But she knows she's not supposed to. There is a different part of the zoo with just a picture of different ones with the labels and she was pretty excited to get to "touch" these butterflies.

testing out the prairie dog tunnel

Gabby testing out the big girl stroller. I think she liked it. 

Being silly in the butterfly. I haven't been able to take a picture of Brooke in here until this day because someone has to lift her up...and I couldn't do both. So we got one when Rita could help.

Another day we met our friends Eric, Julie and Levi. I of course forgot my camera that day but Julie had hers and took some pictures for us. Brooke and Levi had lots of fun in the tunnel.

Gabby was sad she couldn't play in the tunnel...but she had her binky in hand so all was good.

Some cute family pictures! Thanks, Julie! We don't have many of these because the kids don't cooperate too good for the self timer. 

My silly frog.

More exciting than the tunnel are these peek-a-boo trivia things. Brooke opens them over and over and over. 

No more pictures, Mom!

Sisters

We tried to get a picture of Bruce's new outfit (Bruce is the Build-a-Bear) but instead of a successful photo shoot of the bear I got this little treasure. I still consider it a success.

Mommy's Helper

I think my two kids are the best-powdered kids in the neighborhood.

Escape Artist

Next up? We're ordering these little wonders.

I'll post another update when we get them. I'm about ready to go bonkers.

On a side note, Brooklynn has improved a little bit. On the way home the other day she got one of Gabby's (poopy) diapers out of the diaper bag, opened it and instead of playing in it she threw it on the floor. So I guess that's a baby step in the right direction? The bad news cancelling it out? She's playing with Gabby's diapers now, too. I try and have her help me change her, I think maybe she is just curious and this will help her feel like a big girl if she can help change Gabby and I can teach her how to always use wipes and then wash our hands well afterwards because it is dirty....so far it has proved ineffective.