Two and a half months have passed, and yes, having three kids is crazy!  It's mostly awesome crazy, with a side of everyone's-screaming-and-I-have-got-to-make-dinner-crazy.  But when it gets to that level I just look at the picture below and realize how ridiculously amazing these three beings are, and I feel grateful everyday that I have the privilege of watching them grow.

One thing I have to concede is the time I have to work on a blog.  I lament this even as I write it, as the blog is my way to solidify this moment in time and the wonderful childhood experiences that each child is having.  Quickly- Dana Rose at 2.5 months is emerging from her newborn phase and looking at us with big smiles and "goo's."  She still prefers to be carried around in the Ergo most places we go, but she is starting to enjoy her exercise time on the floor as she lays on her back and bicycles her legs and arms.  

Whitney Florence- at just over 3 (Butterfly Birthday pictures below) is all about being silly and quirky.    After a long play session with Lyell she'll run up and tell me, "Mom, we were pretending that the snake monster came into our house and sat down to have tomato soup with Nariz.  That's silly!!!" And she'll laugh and laugh…Whit is still very attached to her pink bear and blankie which have been with her every day for three years now.  Pink bear has gotten hair cuts, had trouble sleeping, and has been given several time outs lately due to conflicts with his big brother.

Lyell Todd is almost 5 and graduates from preschool in a month!  He is truly a "big boy" now, and his creative and experimental mind think of grand projects every day.  The other day we were headed to the play park and Lyell wanted to bring both his bike and his scooter.  I told him to choose one, as I couldn't carry the other with Dana Rose in my arms.  He spent the next half an hour devising a bungee cord system to attach the bike and scooter together so he could successfully carry both items to the park himself.  And he did it!  Lyell is also an amazing big brother; his first words upon waking in the morning are, "Where's Dana?" and he goes to her, lays down beside her and has his 'morning Dana time' as he explains it to me.  

Matthew and I have been scrambling to keep up with these three beings as they each emerge in their own way.  We are valuing our family dinners more than ever as our time to sit and be thankful for each day in this very special phase of life we are in. 

We splurged on a newborn photography session, and it was the best!  Here are a few shots from the day after Dana was born.

Dana Rose

Mommy and Dana

Sweet Daddy and Dana

Two weeks later- the three kids in the middle of the playroom, crazy central.  

Two and a half weeks old.

Sleeping Beauty

Daddy time on a Sunday morning.

Lyell's new favorite chore!  He is an excellent weed wacker if anyone is in need of services.

Those of you who have followed our blog from the start know that Nariz is a big theme with the babies.  Here's Dana chilling and Nariz keeping guard for her.

Grandpa and his little bear exploring Yosemite Valley.

Our attempt at a family dinner selfie.  

Dana and her bestie Lyell.  

Grammy and Whitney making birthday cupcakes.

Six Weeks Old.

Whitney choose to have a Butterfly themed birthday, and we had a gorgeous spring day for the event.

All the little butterflies eating lunch.

Whitney and her buddies.

Getting ready for butterfly hide and seek.

Face Painting with Sylvie and Dawn.

Our butterfly piñata lost her wings quickly, but took a while to crack the body.

Lyell takes a swing.

Our next door neighbor and butterfly expert Michael Ross brought over some caterpillars.  We took care of the catapillers, and they made their chrysalises in our house.  We watched all the butterflies emerge just last week, and released them back where the caterpillars came from.  

The late rains have produced an incredible poppy display this spring.  Here we are on a hike on the hillside above our neighborhood.

Whitney and her friend Marley.

California Kids.

Two months old!