In the Studio

I'm not sure if it's just her age or if it has to do with all the sleeping newborns she sees me taking pictures of, but Lucy (and therefore Elliot) has become mildly obsessed with taking "sleeping" pictures in the studio.



It is, actually, the only type of picture she has any interest in taking in the studio. It's kind of annoying, because when I go to the trouble (I mean... it's not that much trouble) of getting her and the boys dressed for studio pictures, I sort of want smiling-open-eyed-sitting-up pictures.  But those are difficult to come by, these days.  Instead, she positions herself in the most difficult-to-view spot (usually with feet closest to me), lies down, and proceeds to pretend-snore in a really adorable, musical way I can only guess she's picked up from some cartoon. 



"Ooooooh"



"Weeeee"



"Ooooh"



"Weeeee"


And if she can get some of her animals, pillows, and/or stethoscope(s) in the pictures, so much the better.
 

As I said, Elliot has adopted the same mild obsession--thanks to Lucy.  He loves to imitate her.  And actually, she loves to imitate him, too.



Oliver is usually just happy to be included.  He loves feeling like one of the "big kids".



Can't believe he turns 1 this week.  I'm glad he's still little and cuddly, though.  He is too cute.



The birthday party for him will be joined with Lucy's -- a pool party.  Poor Elliot at first kept checking that he got to come. 



Stinks being the odd one out... the only one whose party it isn't.  But he and baby #4 will have their opportunities of joint birthday parties before long.



Elliot has become so articulate lately.  And also so... two.  Volatile doesn't quite do it justice.  He is just thoroughly two.  One of the cutest tantrummy sayings of his is, "I get to do NOFFING."



Lucy keeps hearing that she is such a big girl--because she is about to turn FOUR.  This has become problematic, since her logical conclusion is that Elliot is not a big boy (being only 2) and won't even be a big boy when he turns three.  Let me tell you, it requires some calm, quick thinking to navigate out of that little conflict... while driving down the highway... attempting to speak louder than the vocal devastation of a two-year-old's shattered dreams of big-boy-ness. 



She had her first ballet lesson yesterday.  The mommies were asked not to stand at the window and watch.  Umm... are you kidding me? 



Not cool.  She may be getting older by the day, gaining independence and increasingly mature thought patterns, but for the next 3 weeks...



...She's still my little three-year-old.