Happy St. Patrick's Day!

About a week late, but I am finally getting pictures up from St. Patrick's Day!  We love St. Patrick's day around here and had fun dressing up in our green this year!  My friend Jill (Bennett's mom) and I hosted the kid's party at school and it is always such a treat for me to get to go in Ali's class and see them all in action!!  Rhodes and Beau (Bennett's little brother who is 2 months younger than Rhodes) came along for some fun.  The kids loved the yummy snacks and green hats!  It was a wild, but fun morning.  I definitely felt like I needed a nap after all the fun!

The three Patrick girls celebrating the day!

Ali and her friend, Maggie Beth
Some pictures of all of Ali's friends (who she talks about constantly!)




Our little leprechaun
Rhodes and Beau joining the fun

March Madness!

It has been a busy March for the Patrick family!  This past weekend I felt like I couldn't come up for air with everything on our plate - but we had a relaxing day today and things are getting back to normal.  The girls spent a lot of time at the church last week so I could put in my time on Lil Lambs committee during the sale and with Mimi and Grandmommy as I worked.  We are all doing well and still looking forward to April 15th! :)  We just got back from a nice walk in this great weather - much better than the cold and rainy weather we had all weekend long!!  Welcome Spring - I hope you are here to stay!

Rhodes is getting so close to sitting up completely on her own.  I think she would be by now if I had more time to sit her on the floor and let her practice.  She is so strong and is now almost completely rolling over - she gets 7/8 of her body turned over - just can't get the final shove to get her belly/arm over.  It's so cute to watch her b/c she is so determined and I have a feeling she will be rolling over both ways soon.  She actually did it the other day, but she was on our bed, so I'm not sure that counts.  She is also learning to wave (which is so cute!), found her feet this week, is loving her rice cereal and oatmeal (we just started 2 meals a day today!), teething, loving her jumperoo and smiling and laughing with us all the time!  I feel like she has all of a sudden turned into this little person and we truly love her more every day!  

Ali is our little chatterbox and is completely obsessed with watching Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and throws Pinocchio (while eating popcorn) into the mix every now and then.  I love watching her dress up.  I also think we are getting close to potty training as she has been showing interest in it.  I have honestly selfishly been putting it off until Rhodes was a little older/spring was here (less clothes to take off each time) but as soon as tax season is over and I am home more often, I think we will be full on potty training.  Ali is constantly wanting to wear her Dora or Princess pull-ups!  Some of my favorite things Ali is saying right now are "Oh my goodness!" or "Mommy, you're my friend!".   She is a great sleeper, but every night when I tuck her in she tries to persuade me to stay by saying "Mommy, can you lay down with me for just one minute?" - it's hard to resist sometimes.  She loves to talk about her little friends and LOVES to go play with them.  She is one busy little bee!

Here are some pictures of our life these days.  Sitting up, dressing up, matching clothes most days (I'm obsessive!), playing, eating, making messes, taking baths, hanging out and having fun!

Ali loves to look at herself in the mirror.  She is now saying "Mirror, mirror on the wall!" (also loves for us to read Snow White to her - unfortunately, we do not have that movie!)

Rhodes loves her rattle!


Sweet messy faces of our little girls....
This is what happens when daddy feeds Rhodes.... :)  Such a sweet little face!

Big sis, lil sis

People are constantly telling me that Rhodes looks like her big sis, and to be honest, I can't tell either way!  Some days I think she does and some days I think they're opposites!  On Monday, Rhodes turned 5 months and I decided to take her 5 month picture in the same dress Ali wore the same day she turned 5 months (it was Easter 2007) - so here are my pictures to compare.  I now think they actually have their own distinctive looks.  Similar in some parts, but enough differences to make each unique! ;)  Now...my question is - does one of the girls look more like me and one look more like Ryan?? I can't tell!   What do you think?

Alison Brooks 4/8/07

Virginia Rhodes 3/2/09

Ali wanted to have her picture taken with some paper too - so I wrote 28 months on hers. :)  We were fresh out of the bathtub and I hadn't even had a chance to dry her poor hair! She just didn't want to miss out on a photo op.

Happy 5 months, Rhodes!

Rhodesy is already 5 months old!  I know I say this every month, but I can't believe how fast time is flying!  The doctor told me at our 4 month check up that I could start her on solids at 5 months (which I was in no hurry to do - since I have been exclusively breastfeeding and solids just gives me one more thing to forget to take with me when I go out! :)), so we gave it a whirl last night.  Sweet Rhodes is not one to refuse food and she ate like a champ!  Ryan and I were both amazed!  We had Big Papa over for dinner (since Mimi is in SSI) and he walked in just in time to catch the Patrick family historical moment in the making. :)  We were so proud of our sweet Rhodes and she seemed to really enjoy her first tastes of Rice Cereal.  :)  Here are some pictures of our little doll. 

Getting ready to take her first bites!

Here it comes!

Not sure what's going on but, so far, so good! :)
Daddy takes his turn feeding his little girl

She also really enjoyed just chewing on the spoon!!  She kept stealing it from Ryan.
We are so proud of our sweet 5 month old and love her more every day!!  

Snow Day!

Playing around in Big Papa's hat

Getting ready to head out in the snow...


We had a fun and relaxing weekend of visiting with Uncle Sig & Frances, Monkey Joes, playing with Grandmommy and Grandaddy, Supper club, playing with Big Papa and playing in the SNOW!!  Ali loved watching the snow fall and Rhodes got to really see her first snow fall!!  We just wish it had stayed around a little longer!

Playdate with Libby

On Friday, Libby came over to play!  We spent a few hours playing dress up, playing in Ali's kitchen, eating goldfish & grilled cheeses, and playing in Ali's bed!  The house looked like a tornado had been through it - but it was worth it b/c the girls seemed to have a great time.  Here are a few pictures of the girls playing dress up!